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Passionate, dark
‘Tristan’ takes chancesTristan und Isolde: 4 p.m. tomorrow and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Blaisdell Concert Hall, tickets $35 and up, call 596-7858.
By Ruth O. Bingham
Special to the Star-BulletinHawaii Opera Theatre's premiere production of Richard Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" opened to an enthusiastic crowd, a crowd that included Wagner's grandson, Wolfgang, and his wife, Gudrun Wagner.
Director Henry Akina delivered an impassioned reading of "Tristan" as a voyage, visually and figuratively. Blues and grays of the sea dominated, shifting to darker grays and blacks as the lovers journeyed into death. In an interesting gamble, Akina had Isolde drink poison after Tristan died, significantly reinterpreting the end.
Akina's reading was enhanced by sets and lighting designed by Peter Dean Beck. His dramatic, almost melodramatic lighting provided its own visual leitmotif, comments on, and echoes of the text, and added visual interest that is often weak in "Tristan," where most action is internal. Act II's novel, distinctly symbolic setting stiffened edges of the love scene, but also strengthened coherence between acts; its star-lit night was particularly effective.
A strong cast projected memorable, believable characters: soprano Carol Yahr's wild and passionate Isolde acted as the opera's fulcrum, propelling the action; tenor Gary Bachlund's empathetic, if occasionally flat, Tristan looked and sounded the part. Both mezzo-soprano Alexandra Hughes' devoted Brangäne and baritone Gary Simpson's robust Kurwenal charmed, and bass Greg Ryerson was a noble King Marke.
Conductor Ivan Törzs led the performance expertly and with sensitivity, pacing the action well and shaping the orchestra's all-important role. Balance, both with the singers and within the orchestra, was excellent.
Akina's production offered much to admire. His closing scene, with Yahr's sublime final high pianissimo and breathtaking staging, was exquisite.
