Review: (Toronto) Tristan und Isolde

Melanie Diener and Ben Heppner (photo credit: Michael Cooper)

A Brilliant Distraction
Once again the star is the orchestra
by Shannon Christy

Peter Sellars’ production of Tristan Und Isolde is a bold attempt at something new. It takes Wagner’s idea that in the future there would be other, better, devices for conveying his ideas and runs with it. 
But before delving into that, credit is needed where it is due. Toronto is a gifted city with an awesome house for opera. Conductor Johannes Debus was able to take on the Everest of Operas with very short notice to pull off a flawless performance. He kept the pace, managing to give the performers the necessary lead without allowing them to drag things down. The music was outstanding.

The voices are incredible. This is especially true for Franz-Josef Selig who plays Marke, the King of Cornwall. His laments, his pleas, his anger, are like a heavy cream for the soul. His is a voice that awakens your demons and tells them to be on guard. Both Ben Heppner (Tristan), and Melanie Diener (Isolde), are wonderful but their performances though bright are but mere shadows compared to Mr. Selig’s.

Multi-Media, January 25, 2013

The Fucking A-Team
this is not a recording from some starving prompter who stuffed a primitive recording device down his pants
by Shannon Christy

I would like to preface this by saying I am not a BIG fan of Wagner. This is not to say that I do not respect his talent as an artist or a composer because I do. It just means that I do not worship the man nor do I donate large sums of money to his festival in Bayreuth year after year just in the hope of attending. 

I, however, am a big fan of his music. The tones, the stories, the expressions, are rich. By rich I don’t mean it is something you can indulge in. No. Wagner is something you need to be ready for. I suggest listening to Mozart for foreplay and when you are raring to go and really want to hit your stride but do not want to be disappointed, put in Wagner. His is a mental probing the likes of which you need lube to slide into.

Once there you need the fucking A-team of talent to take you on this journey. If the talent is not there you will be frustrated, with an overwhelming sense of disappointment, anger, and disgust.