After a triumphant start with the new production of "Der Ring des Nibelungen", the second part of the Wagner Festival of the Sofia Opera began with a performance of "Tristan und Isolde".
A large audience filled the hall and held its breath from the very beginning of the spectacle.
With an unusual beginning, exceptional development of the stage action and a memorable finale, "Tristan und Isolde" was a purifying experience for the senses. The set was fantastically beautiful with the special multimedia and sets, the plot played out as if on a film strip. The timeless messages of the work reached out to each and every spectator to make them indulge in reflection on what is most precious – life, love, loyalty.
"If we accept Wagner's admission that he did not write operas but dramas, it is "Tristan und Isolde" that fits into his creative and life biography as his personal and true emotional drama. With this work, the German genius defined his philosophy in reaching the ultimate impulse and meaning of life with the insight that only through love and only in love can man find himself" – believes Plamen Kartaloff. He adds: "I have sought to realise the complex philosophy of Richard Wagner's poetic masterpiece in a musical theatrical language that is completely comprehensible, emotional, dynamic and highly expressive. Wagner himself wanted to see theatre in his music on stage. Notwithstanding the exceptional requirement for the vocal stamina of the singers, it is no less a requirement that they be great actors."
The international presence among the audience was complemented with spectators from Finland and new guests from Austria and Germany. They commented passionately on their experience, sharing that it was the first time they attended such a spectacle. Music critics from prestigious opera publications in Europe had again taken their seats to follow this impressive performance with interest.
Cries of "Bravo!", now a tradition between acts, flooded the hall after the curtain fell. A well-deserved applause broke out for the performance and acting of the soloists Martin Iliev, Radostina Nikolaeva, Atanas Mladenov, Anna Werle, Petar Buchkov, Veselin Mihaylov, Angel Antonov, for the Sofia Opera Orchestra conducted by Constantin Trinks and for the exceptional staging by Plamen Kartaloff.
It was a spectacular spectacle, performed by outstanding soloists and created by an incredible artistic team.
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
First performed in 1865, "Tristan und Isolde" is one of Wagner's most beloved operas. Based on a medieval legend, it is a romantic tragedy of love and death told through sublime music.
From the opening bars of the prelude, with its famous "Tristan Chord," Wagner's transcendent work is one of the most significant works in the operatic repertoire. Wagner himself described it as "the most daring and original work of my life".
Aboard his ship, Tristan and his servant Kurwenal take the Irish princess Isolde to Cornwall, where she is promised to be King Marke's wife. The young woman tells her confidante Brangäne that a knight has murdered her betrothed. It was Tristan, who has also been wounded, but reached the shores of Ireland in a small boat. There Isolde rescued him and the two fell in love. She realises that Tristan will accompany her to Cornwall. Isolde showers him with bitter reproaches and demands retribution for the death of her fiancé, Morold. Tristan silently hands her his sword – let her kill him. But Isolde dreams of another death: her enemy must drink poison. At the princess's request, Brangäne brings a cup of poison. Tristan takes it without hesitation and drinks from the deadly drink. But the desired death does not come. Suddenly a passionate longing overcomes the young couple. The two cannot tear their eyes away from each other, gazing at each other in rapture, subdued by the incredible, powerful force of love. Brangäne has mistakenly given a love potion instead of poison!
Isolde is now married to King Marke. She is looking forward to meeting Tristan. The King has gone on a night hunt and nothing will disturb the happiness of the two lovers. Overwhelmed by passion, Isolde does not hear the warnings of the faithful Brangäne: this is a trap set by the cunning royal advisor Melot. The treacherous courtier advised Marke to go hunting that night and suddenly return!
The lovers revel in their passion and realize that only on the long night of death can they be forever joined. Brangäne warns Tristan and Isolde that the night is ending, but the lovers forget about the world around them. They are surprised by the sudden return of King Marke. He is horrified at being betrayed by Tristan.
Melot, King Marke's vassal, has mortally wounded Tristan. Kurwenal watches over him as he slowly dies, suffering for Isolde. When the princess finally arrives, it is too late. Only on the long night of death can Isolde join Tristan.
Curious!
With the composition of "Lohengrin" ended of the so-called "Dresden period" of Wagner's oeuvre. And not only because the composer left this city. "Lohengrin" is both his last romantic opera and his first musical drama. From 1849 to 1858, Richard Wagner lived in Switzerland. During this time, he was hard at work on his tetralogy "Der Ring des Nibelungen". His work on this "composition of his life" was exceptionally advanced – "Das Rheingold" and "Die Walküre" were completed, and the first half of "Siegfried" was written. In 1857 the composer unexpectedly left "Siegfried" and began to work hard on "Tristan und Isolde". This is how Wagner explains it in a letter to Liszt: "... I have taken my young Siegfried to the bottom of a lonely forest. Here I lulled him to sleep, and with tears in my eyes I bade him farewell. I forced myself upon him. I tore him from my heart to bury him alive. I had to fight myself hard and raw to come to this decision. Will I ever return to him? ... " The reason for all this was above all Wagner's love for Mathilde Wesendonck, wife of his friend and patron Otto Wesendonck.
Wagner met the Wesendonck family in 1852 and five years later he went with his wife Minna Planer to live in their villa, which they called "The Refuge on the Green Hill". A strong and mutual love developed between Wagner and Mathilde Wesendonck, the fruit of which was "Tristan und Isolde". In 1858, to avoid scandal (despite Wagner's claim that their love was only a dream), he had to leave Zurich and go to Venice. The composer points out that "Tristan und Isolde" is a monument to his dream.
The lyrics of the opera were written in a very short time – in three weeks. Wagner used the many versions of the well-known legend of Tristan and Isolde (probably of Celtic origin) about love being stronger than death. The basis of Wagner's lyrics, however, is a poem by the medieval German poet Gottfried von Strassburg (12th century). Richard Wagner began writing the music in October 1857, but his emigrant woes forced him to interrupt his work several times. The score was completed in the autumn of 1859.
The premiere of "Tristan und Isolde" took place on 10 June 1865 in Munich under the baton of Hans von Bülow.
Tickets for the next spectacles from Sofia Opera Wagner Festival you can buy here.
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