Tristan Und Isolde Tickets

Tristan and Isolde was composed between 1857 and 1859 and received its first performance, conducted by Hans von Bulow, in Munich on 10 June 1865. It is an opera in three acts, composed by Richard Wagner. Wagner takes inspiration from his affair with Mathilde Wesendonck, and also by the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer when composing Tristan und Isolde. Tristan was memorable for Wagner's advanced use of chromatics, tonality, orchestral colour and harmonic suspension and all in all, was one of the peaks of the operatic repertory.

Western classical composers, such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Alban Berg and Arnold Schoenberg all drew inspiration from it because of the impact that it had on them. It is also seen as paving the way towards the 20th century atonal movement, away from conventional harmony and tonality.

The story of Tristan and Isolde was one of the quintessential romances of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Several versions exist, the earliest dating to the middle of the 12th century. In this version, the story runs such that Isolde is to be married against her wishes to King Marke. Tristan is his adopted son, who's betrayed her. She summons him to drink atonement to her.

Tristan believes that this drink is poisoned, but takes it anyway, and Isolde drinks the remainder. Believing that they are about to die, they declare their true feelings of love for each other, but discover that Isolde's maid has switched the drink for a love potion. In the third Act, Tristan, now returned alone to his lands in Kareol, and barely alive, yearns for Isolde. Only her return can save his life. At the end of the Act, Isolde does return, and Tristan dies in her arms. Isolde joins him in death, transfigured by grief.

Due to his participation in the unsuccessful May Revolution, Wagner was forced to abandon his position as Conductor of the Dresden Opera in 1849. He fled to Zurich, where in 1852, he met the wealthy owner of a silk trading firm, Otto Wesendonck. Wesendonck became one of Wagner's supporters, and he financed the composer for several years. A major impact on German Romantic movements during the middle of the 19th century was caused by the re-discovery of medieval Germanic poetry, including Gottfried von Strassburg's version of Tristan, the Nibelunglied and Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival.

Tristan und Isolde proved to be a difficult opera to stage. Paris was the centre of the operatic world in the middle of the 19th century, however past experiences there had been disastrous. At a visit to Vienna, management at Vienna suggested staging the opera there. However, Despite over 70 rehearsals between 1862 and 1864, Tristan und Isolde could not be staged in Vienna, winning the opera a reputation as unperformable.Ludwig II of Bavaria chipped in the resources necessary to mount the premiere of Tristan.

Despite the fact that Wagner was having an affair with his wife Cosima von Bulow, Hans von Bulow was chosen to conduct the production, to be staged at the Munich Opera. Even then the planned premiere on May 15th 1865 had to be cancelled because the Isolde, Malvina Schnorr had gone hoarse. Only on June 10th 1865 was the work finally performed for the first time.