On 7 and 11 March in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scottish Opera is presenting two opera in concert performances of Richard Wagner’s timeless tale of forbidden love, Tristan und Isolde.
With the Glasgow show almost sold out, and Edinburgh tickets going fast, this is a special chance to see Wagner’s epic story of longing and death, which he himself described as his ‘most audacious and original work’.
Conducted by Scottish Opera Music Director, Stuart Stratford, and directed by Justin Way, noted Wagnerian Gwyn Hughes Jones (Tosca 2019) brings his signature Tristan to Scotland for the first time. Acclaimed Dutch soprano Annemarie Kremer makes her Company debut as Princess Isolde.
In their Company debuts, the supporting cast includes mezzo-soprano Khatuna Mikaberidze as Isolde’s maid Brangäne, and Hansung Yoo as Kurwenal. Dingle Yandell (Daphne 2023) is King Marke and Mark Le Brocq (The Makropulos Affair, 2025) is Melot. They are joined by former Emerging Artist Shengzhi Ren (Oedipus Rex 2024)and current Emerging Artist, Edward Jowle (La bohème 2025).
Justin Way, who directed all seven of Wagner’s operas in concerts at the BBC Proms in 2013, brings his expertise in concert staging to probe every dramatic nuance of these complicated characters. He has previously directed productions for companies including Opéra National de Bordeaux, and Opera di Roma.
Costume designs are by Lorna Price, Scottish Opera’s Head of Costume, and lighting designs are by Lizzie Powell, who has worked on previous productions for the Company including Falstaff in 2021 and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2022.
A medieval tale based on a Celtic legend and inspired by the German poem by Gottfried von Strassburg, it follows Cornish knight Tristan, who is sent to Ireland to fetch Princess Isolde for marriage to his uncle, King Marke. However, when Tristan and Isolde accidentally drink a love portion on the journey home and fall in love, it sets off a tragic chain of events.
First performed in 1865, the opera features the famous ‘Tristan chord’, which is initially heard in the prelude and left unresolved until the very end. It has notably been included in various films including Vertigo in 1958, Tender is the Night in 1962 and more recently in the 2011 Lars von Triers film, Melancholia.
Due to the extended runtime, this performance will begin earlier than usual, starting at 3pm in Glasgow, and 5.30pm in Edinburgh.
Stuart Stratford said: ‘If Tristan und Isolde is not the Mount Everest of opera, it is certainly one of the highest and trickier ascents of the Himalayas requiring unparalleled feats of bravery and stamina from all – including the listener!
“At over four hours of music, it has its own way of slowly unfolding, which is at first fascinating, then revealing and finally devastating. Oh, and did I say that it preludes the most decadent period in classical music and indeed seeds the very destruction of tonality. I don’t think you should miss it!’
Director Justin Way said: ‘My job as director is to facilitate the connection that the artists have with their characters and the score and free them up to explore, so that we create a vivid world where the audience writes their own mis-en-scene. We can then allow the metaphor and poetry of Wagner’s dramaturgy to fill the space. Tristan und Isolde could be summarised in a very brief paragraph, but the philosophy is enormous.
‘It’s not about action – each act starts and ends with action, but the rest is self-discovery and struggles with needs and desires. The orchestra tells you what to do. Crisis, serenity, nostalgia, and regret are all written there. Every single psychological colour is in the score.’
Scottish Opera ensures world-class opera remains accessible to everyone across Scotland. At these performances of Tristan und Isolde, tickets at Usher Hall Edinburgh are priced from £20, and from £23 at Theatre Royal Glasgow, with almost 40% of tickets £45 or under at both venues. £15 tickets are available for under-26s and students, as well as concessions for Registered Unemployed, Students, Registered Disabled, over 60s and groups.
The Company has provided over 1500 free tickets to schools since 2022, often introducing pupils to live opera for the first time, and over 1,600 free tickets have been distributed to New Scots communities across Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh. Free tickets are also available for schools, colleges, and community groups, with travel subsidies where needed.
Tristan und Isolde is supported by The Scottish Opera Endowment Trust.
Tickets are available now at Tristan und Isolde | Scottish Opera