Wagner returns to Les Arts after 10 years of absence with the premiere of 'Tristan und Isolde'

'Les Arts és Òpera' 

• James Gaffigan assumes the musical direction of this title, a favorite of fans, which is represented in the spectacular muntatge of Àlex Ollé
• The Arts brings together the first versions of the Wagnerian composer, with Stephen Gould and Ricarda Merbeth in the main papers 

Valencia (12.04.23). Richard Wagner's opera returns to the Les Arts program with the premiere of 'Tristan und Isolde' next April 20, in a production with musical direction by James Gaffigan and staged by Àlex Ollé.

After canceling the next performances in 2021 due to the restrictions of the pandemic, the artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, has presented this title in the press round, which he has described as an “event of the first magnitude, very much expected by the musicians and coneixedors of the artistic excellence of Les Arts”.

"Després deu anys d'absència, l'opéra Wagneriana, with which the theater and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV) are breaking into the international scene, returns to Les Arts. It is also an indispensable title in the repertoire of international and fundamental opera cases in the history of music: 'Tristan und Isolde', which will be the first performances in the Main Hall."

Accompanied by James Gaffigan, Àlex Ollé and the tenor Stephen Gould, who sings the role of Tristan, Iglesias Noriega has highlighted the commitment to the highest quality for 'Tristan und Isolde', which brings together “the first versions of the Wagnerian circuit, one of the reference pieces of the work and the musical direction of James Gaffigan, which After his apotheosis 'Wozzeck' he will fascinate with another musical 'tour de force'.”

In this sense, mateix Gaffigan has highlighted how important the musical line that 'Tristan und Isolde' was, providing only top-level musical formations. In the second case, the latter ventured into this musical drama, which will debut in 2022 at the Santa Fe Opera alongside publications such as the newspaper 'The New York Times' or 'Musical America', considered the 'bible' of classical music by the United States.

Àlex Ollé directs his first production in Valencia, with this production of the Lió Opera, which includes a set by Alfons Flores, video projections by Franc Aleu and costumes designed by Josep Abril.

The Catalan director opts for a striking and, at the moment, minimalist and free of superfluous elements, which gives absolute protagonism to the singers and Wagner's music.

The scene, explains Ollé, is dominated by a giant 5.2-ton sphere, which serves as a mark to narrate the love story: a large moon during the first act; The castle of King Marke, in the second, and in the third, there is a large llosa, which Tristan carries for the lady he betrayed to the king.

The Arts meet in 'Tristan un Isolde' consecrated by many German repertoires, common in the great international theaters and essential in the distributions of the Bayreuth Festival, the epicenter of Wagnerian culture par excellence.

Mateix Stephen Gould has been crowned at the Green Hill Theater as Tristan's current reference performer. According to the American Heldentenor, the role of the Breton nobleman is his favorite paper. Musically, for its specific demands and necessities, it is considered the “last station” in the career of a Wagnerian tenor. Stephen Gould will make his debut at Les Arts in 2011 as Enée in 'Les Troyens', by Berlioz.

After singing for the first time the role of Isolde a Hamburg, Ricarda Merbeth's debut in Bayreuth with the Irish princess, replacing 'in extremis' Petra Lang, will be the sensation of the festival in 2017. Her resounding success will elevate her as one of the reference songs in the work of the German composer. With commitments to Berlin, Milan, London, New York, Paris and Vienna, the specialized press praises Merbeth for her exquisite musicality, phrases of immeasurable dramatic intensity and excellent acting qualities.

The lower Estònia artist Ain Anger (rei Marke) is a common name on the circuit's main opera stages, especially for his recent forays into Wagner's work. Distingit, like Merbeth, as a Kammersänger for the Austrian Government, his CV includes more than 40 papers.

The main quartet is the German Claudia Mahnke (Brangäne), Kammersängerin of the Frankfurt Opera and one of the favorite 'mezzo-sopranos' in the great theaters of the German repertoire, more than usual in the distributions of the Bayreuther Festspiele.

The cast of 'Tristan und Isolde' is complete with the works of Kostas Smoriginas (Kurwenal), in addition to the former student of the Center de Perfection Moisés Marín (Melot) and Alejandro Sánchez (A timoner), who belongs to the current promotion of the format project.

Les Arts premieres 'Tristan und Isolde' on April 20. The remaining performances will be held on April 23, 26, 29 and May 3.

Parallel activities 

On the occasion of the premiere of 'Tristan und Isolde', Les Arts, in collaboration with the Filmoteca, has scheduled the screening of 'Melancholia' (2011), by Lars von Trier, in which the music of Wagner's opera plays a major role.

Furthermore, on April 17, the Main Hall will host the preview for those under 29 years of age of the work with tickets sold out from Saturday to Friday.