Director Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson infuses self-loathing and love in Bayreuth’s ‘Tristan und Isolde’ performance

In January 2022, Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson received a call from Katharina Wagner, the director of the Bayreuth festival, inviting him to create a new production of “Tristan und Isolde” to debut in 2024. Arnarsson accepted the offer after listening to Carlos Kleiber’s recording of the opera on Spotify. The production, starring Andreas Schager and Camilla Nylund and conducted by Semyon Bychkov, opened on July 25 for a run of seven performances through Aug. 26.
Arnarsson’s interpretation of the classic tragic love story delves into themes of self-loathing and heavy expectations, offering a psychoanalytic examination of the characters. The production, with sets by Vytautas Narbutas and costumes by Sibylle Wallum, is rich in symbolism, requiring a study guide for deeper understanding.
Camilla Nylund, who plays Isolde, shared that Arnarsson aimed to portray the legendary characters in a very human-like manner, allowing the audience to relate to their struggles and emotions. The staging introduces unique elements, like Isolde wearing a giant white dress and Tristan’s garment being oxblood-colored to symbolize wounds and dried blood instead of focusing on a traditional love potion.
Arnarsson’s vision of the story suggests that Tristan and Isolde were already in love before the opera’s events, adding depth and complexity to their relationship. The production includes symbolic elements such as Tristan poisoning himself and Isolde eventually succumbing to his death, emphasizing their intertwined fates.
The set design by Vytautas Narbutas transforms traditional settings like a ship and a castle into more abstract and symbolic representations, emphasizing themes of humanity’s impact on the planet. Lighting by Sascha Zauner adds to the eerie atmosphere of the production, intensifying emotional moments on stage.
During the performances, Andreas Schager faced challenges during the third act, leading to a temporary replacement by cover Tilmann Unger. However, Schager returned in good form for subsequent performances. Camilla Nylund delivered a captivating performance as Isolde, supported by a talented cast including Christa Mayer, Olafur Sigurdarson, Günther Groissböck, and Birger Radde.
Conductor Semyon Bychkov, who previously led a staged production of “Tristan” in Chicago in 2000, praised the intensity and depth of the current performance at the Bayreuth festival. Bychkov highlighted the complexity of the opera, noting that no single performance or individual can fully realize all its facets at once due to its profound nature.