Richard Wagner
TRISTAN AND ISOLDE (Tristan und Isolde)
A Music Drama in Three Acts Directed by Robert Wilson
Buy tickets
A co-production with the Royal Opera La Monnaie in Brussels, the Royal Theatre in Madrid and the Wrocław Opera
PEAK OF THE OPERA SEASON: TRISTAN AND ISOLDE DIRECTED BY ROBERT WILSON
A musical, theatrical and cultural event of the season – not only in Slovenia, but also in Europe!
Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde is considered one of the most important works of the Western classical musical and one of the pinnacles of European art in general. Four European opera houses from Belgium, Poland, Spain and Slovenia have joined forces in this impressive project. "Tristan and Isolde" is co-produced with leading opera houses - La Monnaie in Brussels, Teatro Real in Madrid and Opera Wroclaw.
Robert Wilson, one of the most influential and visionary directors of contemporary theatre and opera, is directing Wagner's masterpiece Tristan and Isolde for the first time in his almost 60-year career. This will be a historic event for the Ljubljana Opera House, where the first Slovenian production of this magnificent work will be staged.
We are announcing a unique musical and theatrical spectacle – an experience that you simply cannot miss!
Take a look at the introductory words by the dramaturge Konrad Kuhn below, see exclusive photos from the preliminary studio rehearsals of "Tristan and Isolde", which took place in our theater in June, and watch a video message by Robert Wilson.
»After having staged Parsifal, Lohengrin and the Ring Cycle, world renowned stage director and visual artist Robert Wilson (USA) is tackling this seminal work for the first time. Much like Wagner changed the music world in the 19th century, Robert Wilson left a tremendous impact on the theater world in the 20th century and continues to do so in our time. After creating works like Deafman Glance and Einstein on the Beach in the 1970s, it was only much later that he turned to existing plays and finally opera. When he does so, he tries to create a vessel for the poetry of the music. To put it in his own words: “I want to create a structure of time and space that allows me to hear the music better than when I close my eyes.”
His productions never try to impose a certain view or “interpretation” of an existing work, e.g. by “updating” the plot or setting. In the case of Tristan and Isolde, his goal is to let the power of the story told through music unfold by creating an abstract form devoid of any psychological realism. For him, the main topic of the work is the contrast between the “world of day” that stands for mundane striving and ambition opposed to the “world of night”, where truly deep emotions can be sensed and the story of the two unhappy lovers reaches us directly.«
Artists
- Music and libretto Richard Wagner
- Conductor Jacek Kaspszyk
- Direction Robert Wilson
- Set Designer Robert Wilson
- Lighting Designer Robert Wilson
- Co-Director Nicola Panzer
- Co-set Designer Stephanie Engeln
- Co-Lighting Designer Marcello Lumaca
- Costume Designer Jacques Reynaud
- Hair & Make-up Artist Manuela Halligan
- Video Designer Tomasz Jeziorski
- Dramaturg Konrad Kuhn
- Photographies Lucie Jansch
- Chorus Master Željka Ulčnik Remic
- Concert Master Anna Morgoulets
- Assistant Conductor Jakob Barbo
- Assistants to the Co-Director Matej Prevc, Simona Pinter
- Assistant to the Co-Set Designer Flavio Pezzotti
- Assistant Costume Designer Flavia Ruggeri
- Costume Design and Costumes Production Coordinator Anjana Pavlič Polšak
- Répétiteurs Kayoko Ikeda, Višnja Kajgana, Irena Zajec, Irina Milivojević, Stefan Pajanović, Marina Đonlić (chorus)
- Language Coach Anja Avbelj, Tomaž Zadnikar (choir)
- Prompters Dejan Gebert, Urška Švara Kafol
- Stage Managers Višnja Fičor, Tomaž Čibej, Roman Pušnjak
- Lighting Manager Rebeka Dobravec
- Intern Gretchen Fan Weber
- Dancers in the creative process Maj Zalokar*, Talita Sofija Komelj*, Maja Lenasi*, Manca Cerar*, Tuza Tamás*, Gregor Guštin, Sven Haring*, Julija Banič*, Zanika Čaušević*, Urša Vidmar, Goran Tatar, Georgeta Capraroiu, Tomaž Horvat, Barbara Marič, Enisa Hodžić, Christina Thaler, Brina Rakun, Lucas Carboni Kopše*, Vito Vidovič Bintchende*, Tjaša Prezelj*, Lina Glavan*, Katka Slosar*
*a. g. - Men's Chorus Chorus Inspector Darja Novak
- Orchestra Inspector Martin Žužek Kres
- Music Archivist Damjan Kozole
- In-house Dramaturg Tatjana Ažman
- Team of Producers Executive Producers Polona Kante, Nives Fras, Simon Stanojevič, Producer Maja Devetak, Production Office Drejc Gruden
- Surtitles Translation Andrej Hiti Ožinger (Slovene), Konrad Kuhn (English), Adaptation and Language Editing Marja Filipčič Redžić (Slovene), Language Editing Nataša Jelić (English), Preparation Urška Švara Kafol, Technical Execution Ana Pučnik*, Simon Intihar*
*External Collaborator. - Sets and costumes Theatre Workshop of the SNG Opera in balet Ljubljana and SNG Drama Ljubljana, Head of Workshop Matjaž Arčan Stage Backdrop Painting (after the design by Stephanie Engeln)
Keioko Shiraishi - Technical Department Head of Department Mislav Kuzmanić
Entire cast
- Tristan Daniel Frank k. g./ Jonathan Stoughton k. g.
- Isolde Magdalena Anna Hofmann k. g./ Edith Haller k. g.
- Brangäne Monika Bohinec k. g./ Dubravka Šeparović Mušović k. g.
- King Marke Peter Martinčič
- Kurwenal Jože Vidic/ Grga Peroš a. g.
- Melot Ivan A. Arnšek
- A shepherd Matej Vovk
- A steersman Robert Brezovar
- A voice of a young sailor Aljaž Farasin
- English Horn Solo Manca Marinko
Choir and Orchestra of the Slovenian National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana
Notifications
12. 01. 2026
Richard Wagner’s Music Drama Tristan and Isolde at SNG Opera and Ballet Also on 9 February 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
15. 08. 2025
The premiere of TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, Robert Wilson's last opera production, will take place on February 5th, 2026 in Ljubljana
Robert Wilson was in Ljubljana several times in preparation of his production of TRISTAN UND ISOLDE.
1. 07. 2025
New season, new chapter
6 opening nights and 9 reruns
The highlight of the 25/26 season: Tristan and Isolde,
directed by the legendary Robert Wilson