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Yannick leads 'Tristan und Isolde,' with Stuart Skelton, Nina Stemme

Nina Stemme sings while Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts The Philadelphia Orchestra in a production of Tristan Und Isolde at Marian Anderson Hall on June 1, 2025.
Jessica Griffin
/
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Nina Stemme sings while Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts The Philadelphia Orchestra in a production of Tristan Und Isolde at Marian Anderson Hall on June 1, 2025.

Join us on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 12:30 p.m. on WRTI 90.1 for a special Saturday afternoon opera presentation, as The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert offers a complete concert performance of Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra are joined by two sterling headliners who, in Yannick’s words, “have virtually owned these roles” in recent years, singing them “everywhere in the world.” One is the Swedish soprano Nina Stemme, who sings Isolde for the last time in this performance, making it a historic occasion. The other is Australian tenor Stuart Skelton, who has been her onstage partner as Tristan more often than not for the last decade. The two share a deep understanding of these characters and a compelling musical and dramatic chemistry.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin on bringing opera to the stage and magic within the connection of Nina Stemme Stuart Skelton.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin on bringing opera to the stage and magic within the connection of Nina Stemme Stuart Skelton.

The ancient Celtic legend that inspired Richard Wagner is an archetypal tale, with echoes throughout literature over millenia. Romeo and Juliet, Lancelot and Guinevere, Pelleas and Melisande: all found themselves in similar straits to the dashing and noble Breton knight Tristan and the regal and proud Irish princess Isolde. Even before the action of the opera begins, the two share tragic connections, guaranteeing that they will betray their own ideals should their love prevail.

The agonizing emotions and choices of the opera’s tragic lovers are conveyed not only through the dramatic power of the singers, but also by the orchestra. This is evident from the very beginning of the work, in the achingly beautiful Prelude, which immediately presents us with a chord of piercing dissonance that remains unresolved — not just through the Prelude, but throughout the whole opera, when it finally reaches consonance as death claims the reunited lovers in Isolde’s famous “Liebestod” (“Love-Death”). Stemme says she has long been captivated by “all these nonverbal messages that [Wagner] sends through the orchestration, through the harmonies that never come to a resolution until the very, very end. And it does something to us emotionally.” Skelton agrees: “I don't think there is an opera composer on the planet that does that better … [Wagner] manipulates stuff in your brain in a way that you don't quite understand.”

Yannick comments that the orchestra he has led since 2012 is uniquely qualified to offer this monumental music drama in concert. “I feel like The Philadelphia Orchestra, not only are they incredible listeners when they play, but also there is a real approach to the richness of their sound without overpowering the singers.” And, in a note of historical resonance, this concert comes 90 years after the Philadelphia Orchestra presented the first full performance of Tristan und Isolde in the United States.

Melinda Whiting speaks with Tristan stars Stuart Skelton and Nina Stemme, who sings Isolde for the last time in this performance.
Melinda Whiting speaks with Tristan stars Stuart Skelton and Nina Stemme, who sings Isolde for the last time in this performance.
Left to right: Tenor Stuart Skelton, WRTI classical host Melinda Whiting and soprano Nina Stemme.

Also featured in this performance are mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill as Isolde’s maidservant, Brangäne; baritone Brian Mulligan as Kurwenal, Tristan’s close friend; bass Tareq Nazmi as King Marke, betrothed to Isolde; tenor Freddie Ballentine as Melot, the courtier who betrays the lovers to the king; and tenor Jonghyun Park in two roles, as a sailor and a shepherd. Appearing in the opera’s first act are the men of the Philadelphia Symphonic Chorus, prepared by Donald Palumbo.

Yannick, who is the music director of The Metropolitan Opera as well as The Philadelphia Orchestra, will lead Tristan und Isolde at the Met in the coming season. He’s excited first to offer the work with the Philadelphians and the singers on a platform above and behind the orchestra, with minimal but effective staging. Opera in concert “gives tremendous possibilities to be able to have singers who can really sing what's in the score,” he notes. “Giving the priority and the sole focus to the music is the goal.”

PROGRAM:

Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Men of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor

CAST:

Stuart Skelton, tenor (Tristan)

Nina Stemme, soprano (Isolde)

Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano (Brangäne)

Brian Mulligan, baritone (Kurwenal)

Tareq Nazmi, bass (King Marke)

Freddie Ballentine, tenor (Melot)

Jonghyun Park, tenor (A Sailor’s Voice/A Shepherd)

Nathan Schludecker, baritone (A Steersman)

WRTI PRODUCTION TEAM:

Melinda Whiting: Host

Alex Ariff: Senior Producer and Broadcast Engineer

Listen for up to two weeks after broadcast on WRTI Replay or at WRTI.org by scrolling down to The Philadelphia Orchestra On Demand.

Melinda has worked in radio for decades, hosting and producing classical music and arts news. An award-winning broadcaster, she has created and hosted classical music programs and reported for NPR, WQXR—New York, WHYY–Philadelphia, and American Public Media. WRTI listeners may remember her years hosting classical music for WFLN and WHYY.