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Brilliant performances in the Met’s new Tristan und Isolde but staging gets in the way of the music

Lise Davidsen (Isolde) and Michael Spyres (Tristan)
© Karen Almond | Met Opera
Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera
© Karen Almond | Met Opera
Lise Davidsen (Isolde)
© Karen Almond | Met Opera
Michael Spyres (Tristan)
© Karen Almond | Met Opera
Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera
© Karen Almond | Met Opera
Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera
© Karen Almond | Met Opera
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“Lise Davidsen’s singing was dark and brilliant, a black diamond of a soprano”
Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 9 March 2026
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde
Metropolitan Opera
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Yuval Sharon, Director
Es Devlin, Set Designer
Clint Ramos, Costume Designer
John Torres, Lighting Designer
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
The Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Ruth Hogben, Video
Michael Spyres, Tristan
Lise Davidsen, Isolde
Ryan Speedo Green, King Marke
Tomasz Konieczny, Kurwenal
Ekaterina Gubanova, Brangäne
Thomas Glass, Melot
Jonas Hacker, Shepherd
Ben Reisinger, Young seaman
Ben Brady, Helmsman
Annie-B Parson, Choreography
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