Richard Wagners Isolde and Tristan - Los Angeles CA
Location: Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles CA
Author: Arturo Perez
Photography: Mathew Imaging
So what happens when you start a music magazine and use it to see over 400 concerts of every type of modern music imaginable? You start getting very picky about what you see and the shows become less and less memorable each time. Aside from bands like Radiohead, Tool, Bjork, Sigur Ros and dredg, there are really very few bands that manage to get me excited about going to a show, but December 10th had me squirming since the get go. I was to see Tristan, an interpretation of Richard Wagner's Isolde and Tristan, featuring Bill Viola, the master of visual effects, and the Los Angeles philarmonic, one of the most recognized orchestras in the world. Should I wear my Led Zeppelin t-shirt?
Dressed in nice clothing for the first time to a music show, the difference of treatment at the Wall Disney Concert Hall was apparent. Couples in love, beautiful dresses, and very peaceful smiles surrounded the very pleasant atmosphere. The show starts with a sixteen minute piece inspired by Wagner's opera; a string only arrangement that is soft yet a true sensory overload. The hall's acoustics are such that even if you sneeze, the entire crowd will hear you, but everyone's breath is held in awe of the virtuosity of the string players and the passion behind the concertmaster's movements.
A ten minute intermission follows. As I stand outside reading the evening's program, I could hear the string players fiddling around getting ready for the show. My senses and the acoustics were such that I could almost visualize the sound waves streaming through the Hall, each with their own shape and personality, like animated characters from a certain mouse-related company.
The opera started off slow; the string arrangements were all back, but all sort of brass instruments and drums had been added onto the Orchestra. Wondering whether I would like it didn't take up my time too long. Before I knew it, a man started singing opera from the back, two women had come on stage to sing, and I found myself entranced. The screen on top had the English translation so we could follow the storyline, the visuals were presented in a gigantic screen; as Viola presented us with the most psychedellic symbolism he could have possibly come up with, of which Tool would have been very proud, while my senses did not know where to look or focus.
None of the elements of a good rock show were missing. There was nudity thanks to the visual effects of Bill Viola; only it was done in good taste and the girl looked so beautiful she looked angelic. There was a storyline with much more edge than any Hoobastank or New Found Glory song will ever be able to provide. And it was LOUD. At the end of the show, the horns had cranked up all the way, the concertmaster looked like he was spazzing, the opera singers were all singing in unison, choirs came from the halls to sing along, and everyone in the audience had their heart racing frenetically whether previously interested or not. The snobbery that could be slightly felt at the beginning had worn off from everyone; it was a true genuine human moment in which we all spontaneously clapped in ecstasy, as the crowd stood up and cheered, "Bravo, Bravo," and we all smiled knowing we had been part of a very special night.
Tristan was not an opera; it was an interpretation. Unfortunately we only got to see Act I, which lasted for eighty two minutes. The idea was to interpret the three acts of the opera throughout several nights by the visual symbolism of Bill Viola, whose every shot played with the audience's subconsciousness. But the show gave me a whole new perception of what Operas are about. Rather than a bunch of people screaming really dramatically about things I can't understand, it is the perfect artistic medium by which to express music, poetry, a writer's story-line, theater and art.
And for those who care about story-line, according to Viola, "Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde is the story of a love so intense and profound that it cannot be contained in the material bodies of the lovers. In order to fully realize their love, Tristan and Isolde must ultimately transcend life itself."
Now put aside your converses for a day and go treat yourself to a different musical experience. It took me 400 shows of moshing, drinking, and screaming to check this out, and now I'm hooked. I still love rock, hip hop, electronic and all its variations, but I have found a different vibe with which to explore within the music world, and I don't feel one inch less rebellious.
Check out more of this extraordinary concept here, and more about Bill Viola's visuals here.
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Reader's Comments:
isar :: 07:44 Thursday 6 JanI would very much like to see more images from the spectacle (Tristan and Isolde). These images are absolutely great. Thanks.
Nicoletta
very interesting to see this in a rock magazine maybe ill check an opera out one day