Stephen Langridge's new production of Tristan und Isolde at Staatsoper Hannover opened on 16 September to critical acclaim. Reviewers have praised the simplicity of the production and the courage of Langridge's clean-cut approach:
“No other work by Wagner has so little plot yet focuses so explicitly on what goes on inside the characters' minds. This makes Tristan und Isolde, albeit a favourite in the opera canon, a work that is difficult to stage and communicate. The creative team in charge [of this production] are Stephen Langridge and, for set and costumes, Connor Murphy. They chose a very clear-cut, unobstructed perspective on the story, which allows a lot of space for those worlds inside the characters and for the text. … There is plenty of room to play out the characters' dialogue. Stephen Langridge has the courage to focus on and trust the text. ... This is not an attempt to reinterpret the piece, the point is not to find previously undiscovered layers in this work. … At the end, there are many well-deserved Bravos”
(Christian Schuette, Der neue Merker)
“Nothing in this coolly simple production distracts from the music. … A more intense Tristan [und Isolde] has never been seen. And if you were hoping for a comprehensively intense operatic experience, you got it.”
(Henning Queren, Neue Presse)
“With its restrained set design and the clearly defined colours in light and costumes, this production seems impressively modern ... The two Butoh dancers, whom Stephen Langridge has added to the performance, really add another transcendental level. … Every opera fan gets their money’s worth here.”
(Agnes Bührig, NDR)
“sophisticated and introverted production”
(Stefan Arndt, Hannoversche Allgemeine)
A slideshow of production photographs is available here and you can watch the trailer by clicking on this link. Performances of Tristan und Isolde run until 22 December.
Stephen Langridge is Director of Opera at Gothenburg Opera and the designated Artistic Director of Glyndebourne. His new production of Das Rheingold opens in Gothenburg on 17 November.
Photography: Thomas M. Jauk
