It's Richard Wagner's transcendent and tragic masterpiece, Tristan und Isolde on WRTI this Saturday at 1 pm. The two lovers will be sung by Canadian tenor Ben Heppner and Swedish soprano Nina Stemme. Patrick Summers conducts.
http://youtu.be/j8enypX74hU
Nearly 150 years after its premiere in 1865, Wagner’s tour de force of love, desire, revenge, redemption, and humanity remains one of the most influential musical works of history. Patrick Summers notes, "Tristan and Isolde undoubtedly altered the course of Western music. It is the apotheosis of the pre-Freudian era. It is, paradoxically, one of the great love stories ever told, while simultaneously being about the oblivion of death. To me, it is the musical manifestation of Hamlet's famous final utterance – 'the rest is silence'." A co-production with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Saturday, November 30, 1 pm.
CAST:
Nina Stemme: Isolde
Ben Heppner: Tristan
Claudia Mahnke: Brangaene
Ryan McKinny: Kurwenal
Christof Fischesser: King Marke
Patrick Summers: Conductor