Super stars: musical riches in Munich's new Tristan und Isolde

By Hugo Shirley, 01 July 2021

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“we saw two intelligent artists tackle the challenges cannily and, on their own terms, convincingly”

Reviewed at Nationaltheater, Munich on 29 June 2021

Wagner, Tristan und Isolde

Bavarian State Opera

Kirill Petrenko, Conductor

Krzysztof Warlikowski, Director

Małgorzata Szczęśniak, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Felice Ross, Lighting Designer

Kamil Polak, Video

Miron Hakenbeck, Dramaturgy

Lukas Leipfinger, Dramaturgy

Anja Harteros, Isolde

Jonas Kaufmann, Tristan

Mika Kares, King Marke

Wolfgang Koch, Kurwenal

Sean Michael Plumb, Melot

Okka von der Damerau, Brangäne

Dean Power, Shepherd

Manuel Günther, Helmsman

Christian Rieger, Young seaman

Claude Bardouil, Choreography

Stellario Fagone, Choirmaster / chorus director

Bayerischer Staatsopernchor

Bayerisches Staatsorchester

Jones’ wicked Hänsel und Gretel returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper

Mark Pullinger, 6th December

Even without a gingerbread house, there’s enough wickedness in Richard Jones’ staging of Humperdinck’s opera for sweet tooths to savour.

****1

No fairy tale: Kušej’s Rusalka works with devastating force in Munich

Orsolya Gyárfás, 26th July

Asmik Grigorian leads a searing performance in Martin Kušej’s 15-year-old, yet ever-fresh, outstanding production of Dvořák's opera.

****1

Everlasting Everding: another beautiful Munich Zauberflöte revival

Laura Servidei, 4th January

August Everding’s Magic Flute is revived in Munich with a solid cast for the enjoyment of all ages.

***11

And they were the most divine gods: Das Rheingold in Munich

Phillip Richter, 3rd November

Tobias Kratzer's prelude to this new Ring cycle exceeds all expectations and scores a musical-theatrical success.

*****

All play and no work: an exuberant Figaro in Munich

Orsolya Gyárfás, 17th July

Evgeny Titov's new production is heavy on the jokes and light in substance, but delights anyway thanks to its high-class cast.

****1

Waltzing masks and masquerades in Kosky’s new Fledermaus

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd December

Expect sequins and swinging chandeliers in the Australian director's new Fledermaus at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

****1

More reviews...

Hugo Shirley

Hugo Shirley is a Berlin-based writer and musicologist. He has written widely as a critic in the UK, including for The Spectator, the Financial Times and Daily Telegraph, and has held editorial posts at both Opera and Gramophone. He was editor of 30-Second Opera (Ivy Press, 2015) and has a PhD in musicology from King's College London, where his thesis focused on Strauss and Hofmannsthal’s Die Frau ohne Schatten.