Richard Wagner's monumental opera "Tristan und Isolde" is making its highly anticipated Korean premiere through an unprecedented collaboration between the Korea National Opera and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. The six-hour production, with a total running time of 340 minutes including 40-minute and 30-minute intermissions, represents a significant milestone for Korea's classical music scene under the direction of renowned conductor Jaap van Zweden.
This landmark production brings together Wagner specialists from around the world for a music drama that transforms the universal themes of love and death into a transcendent musical experience. The opera is renowned for its innovative use of chromatic harmony and Wagner's signature leitmotifs, marking a pivotal turning point in modern music history. However, the work is equally famous for its considerable artistic challenges, including demanding vocal writing, extended orchestral textures, and sustained dramatic intensity that tests both performers and audiences.
The Korean premiere became possible following the Korea National Opera's successful launch of its first Wagner series last year with "Tannhäuser," directed by Yona Kim. The involvement of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director Jaap van Zweden proved crucial to realizing this ambitious project. Choi Sang-ho, the Korea National Opera's general and music director, initially proposed the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's participation two years ago when van Zweden, the former New York Philharmonic music director, came to Korea to lead the Seoul-based orchestra.
"Presenting 'Tristan und Isolde' following 'Tannhäuser' last year is a meaningful signal that Korea's performing arts sector is now ready to fully engage with Wagner's profound musical language and philosophical world," Choi told reporters during a press conference on Monday. He emphasized the importance of van Zweden's involvement, stating, "It would have been difficult to make this happen without him."
For the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, this production represents a historic milestone as its de facto first participation in a fully staged opera production. While the orchestra performed an opera in concert form in 2012 without staging or direction, this marks its first return to opera in 13 years and its inaugural involvement in a complete production featuring sets, costumes, and stage direction.
Van Zweden, who has been immersed in Wagner's musical world since he first performed the composer's works, found the proposal deeply compelling. Despite having conducted the full Wagner canon throughout his career, this production marks his first fully staged "Tristan und Isolde." This new challenge aligns perfectly with the seasoned maestro's record of embracing ambitious artistic initiatives at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, including the world premiere of "Inferno" by "Squid Game" music director Jung Jae-il in September and leading the orchestra on a U.S. tour in October that included a prestigious stop at Carnegie Hall.
Describing the intensity of Wagner's musical universe, van Zweden compared it to a powerful drug, remarking, "You are either absorbed into Wagner's world, or you don't like his world." The Dutch conductor and violinist added a poetic observation: "The road to heaven is more beautiful than heaven itself," noting that he is thoroughly enjoying the process of preparing a six-hour opera for the Opera House of the Seoul Arts Center.
The staging is being led by Swiss director Stephan Marki, who has been expanding his Wagner repertoire with notable productions at Germany's Staatstheater Cottbus in 2023 and Switzerland's Theater Bern during the 2015-16 season. For this Korean production, Marki has reimagined the original sea voyage as an extraordinary journey into outer space, creating a visually stunning interpretation that maintains the opera's core themes while offering a fresh perspective.
The stage design features a massive spacecraft with a central spiral structure that symbolizes Wagner's characteristic dualistic worldview and the blurring of boundaries between reality and the otherworldly. Lighting effects, mirrors, and other reflective elements will be strategically used to evoke starlight and express the opera's profound themes of transcendence and salvation. The costume design draws inspiration from spacesuits, protective armor, and naval uniforms to visualize the concept of contrast that runs throughout the work.
"This work transcends every boundary. The musicians, singers, and the entire production team are creating a monumental work by continually pushing against those boundaries," Marki explained, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to bring this complex opera to life.
The production features two alternating casts of internationally acclaimed Wagner specialists. Tenor Stuart Skelton and soprano Catherine Foster will appear as the tragic lovers Tristan and Isolde on December 4 and 7, while tenor Bryan Register and soprano Eliska Weissova will take on these demanding roles on December 5 and 6. Skelton, for whom Tristan has become a signature role, returns to the work that has become central to his international reputation as one of today's leading Wagner tenors. Foster, the distinguished English operatic soprano, appears in this production marking her remarkable 17th engagement as Isolde, demonstrating her mastery of this extraordinarily challenging role.
"Tristan und Isolde" will run from December 4 to 7 at the Opera House in the Seoul Arts Center, with all four performances beginning at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 180,000 won, making this historic production accessible to a wide range of opera enthusiasts and newcomers to Wagner's musical world.
