GUSTAVO DUDAMEL CONDUCTS A RARE REVIVAL OF
THE TRISTAN PROJECT AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
DECEMBER 9–17, 2022

The Acclaimed Production of Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Directed by Peter Sellars with Video by Bill Viola, Will Be Presented Twice, with Each Act Performed as a Self-Contained Concert on Consecutive Nights

Featured Soloists are Michael Weinius, Miina-Liisa Värelä, Eric Owens,
Okka von der Damerau, Ryan Speedo Green, and Robert Stahley

These performances are generously supported by Carol Colburn Grigor / Dunard Fund USA.

Spanish Translation Here.

LOS ANGELES, (Oct. 27, 2022) – For the first time, Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the Tristan Project, the remarkable production of Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde, directed by Peter Sellars with video by trailblazing visual artist Bill Viola. The Tristan Project was first performed in 2004, premiering with the Los Angeles Philharmonic led by Esa-Pekka Salonen before traveling to Paris and New York. This rare opportunity to see the Tristan Project once again on stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall brings together a globally celebrated cast headlined by Michael Weinius and Miina-Liisa Värelä, and also featuring Eric Owens, Okka von der Damerau, Ryan Speedo Green, and Robert Stahley. The production also includes the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Each of the three acts of the opera will be presented in three consecutive concerts, December 9–11* (*matinee) and December 15–17, 2022.

Wagner’s retelling of the medieval legend of doomed lovers caused a revolution with its unprecedented musical innovation. Beginning with the very first notes, including the famed, unresolved “Tristan chord,” the score expresses the tumultuous yearning of the characters through a continuous unfolding of richly colored harmonies, which have made a profound impact on generations of composers.

American stage director Peter Sellars is renowned for his groundbreaking interpretations of artistic masterpieces both classical and contemporary. Bill Viola has been lauded for his role in establishing video as a vital form of contemporary art, greatly expanding its scope in technology, content, and historical reach. Together, Peter Sellars and Bill Viola employ 21st-century innovation to explore the psychological, spiritual and elemental themes of the Tristan and Isolde story, inspired by Wagner’s own desire to expand what opera could be.

THE TRISTAN PROJECT

Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor
Peter Sellars, Director
Bill Viola, Visual Artist
Kira Perov, Executive Producer
Alex MacInnis, Video Operator
Sylvain Levacher, Video Operator
Ben Zamora, Lighting Designer
Elsa Grima, Assistant Director

Michael Weinius, tenor, Tristan
Miina-Liisa Värelä, soprano, Isolde
Eric Owens, bass-baritone, Marke
Okka von der Damerau, mezzo-soprano, Brangäne
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone, Kurwenal
Robert Stahley, tenor, Melot

Los Angeles Master Chorale
Grant Gershon, Artistic Director
Jenny Wong, Associate Artistic Director

The video of Tristan und Isolde was produced by Bill Viola Studio in collaboration with the National Opera, Paris; the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association; the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; the James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Haunch of Venison, London.

TICKETS & SAFETY INFORMATION
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the LA Phil’s website: laphil.com. Programs, artists, prices and dates subject to change. Ticket limits may apply.

Prior to attending, audiences are encouraged to view the LA Phil’s updated safety guidelines posted at: laphil.com/safety.

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About the LA Phil 
Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multi-genre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on three historic stages—Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Ford—as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world today.