R12 / Tristan and Iseult • Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

Opera in concert? Is it going to be serialized? This was the bold plan of chief conductor Petr Popelka when he decided to stage three acts of Wagner's Tristan and Iseult during his first three seasons as chief conductor of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. The composer's treatment of the medieval tale of love and death revolutionised not only the field of opera, but also the development of music as such and the understanding of tonal harmony. Wagner's opera still stirs and moves audiences today as much as when it was new. For its performance, Cinderella brought together the leading Wagnerian singers of the day, led by Swedish tenor Michael Weinius and Norwegian soprano Elisabeth Teige in the starring roles.