BAYREUTH – Imagine receiving a call from the Bayreuth festival director, Katharina Wagner, inviting you to create a new production of “Tristan und Isolde” to open the 2024 festival. That’s exactly what happened to Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson back in January 2022. He accepted the offer the next day after listening to Carlos Kleiber’s 1982 recording on Spotify.

Arnarsson’s staging of the opera, starring Andreas Schager and Camilla Nylund and conducted by Semyon Bychkov, opened on July 25 and will run for seven performances through Aug. 26. The video from the opening night can be streamed on Stage+.

This production goes beyond the traditional tragic love story of “Tristan und Isolde” to delve into themes of self-loathing and burdensome expectations. With sets by Vytautas Narbutas and costumes by Sibylle Wallum, the production is rich in symbolism, inviting the audience to explore its depths.

In this rendition, Tristan and Isolde are portrayed as deeply human characters, making their struggles relatable to the audience. Arnarsson’s vision brings out the complexities of their emotions and relationships in a unique and captivating way.

The production features innovative twists on the original story, such as the use of a death draught instead of a love potion, adding layers of depth and complexity to the narrative. The staging and visual elements, including the set design by Narbutas, create a visually striking and thought-provoking experience for the audience.

As the curtains rise, audiences are transported into a world where love, despair, and fate intertwine to create a mesmerizing theatrical experience. The performances by Schager, Nylund, and the entire cast bring a new perspective to the classic opera, making it a must-see event.