Tristan und Isolde

Tristan und Isolde returns to the New National Theatre Tokyo for the first time since the sensational 2010/2011 Season performances under conductor Ono Kazushi and director David McVicar. Tristan und Isolde, a musical drama from Richard Wagner's mature period, is often called Wagner's greatest musical masterpiece. Musically depicting all-consuming love and anguish, this work lets Wagner's magical power resonate through audience members' entire bodies. Wagner's Tristan und Isolde features not only the leitmotiv (motifs that indicate characters or situations) unique to Wagner's musical dramas and abundant use of unediliche Melodie leading continuously from one melody to another without pause, but also half-step progressions concluding with the so-called Tristan Chord to create harmonies with a sense of uncertainty, expressing sensuality and inspiration. With the famous prelude and the climax of 'Isoldes Liebestod', this work leads the audience to catharsis with sweetly undulating sounds.

Ono Kazushi, who as artistic director has a strong desire to bring this work ― a revolutionary work in opera history ― to opera fans, will conduct. Torsten Kerl, one of the world's greatest Heldentenors returns to the NNTT as Tristan, alongside Eva-Maria Westbroek making her NNTT debut as Isolde.