Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, London Symphony Orchestra/Pappano/Barbican Hall, London EC2 | 12 July, 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Clare Colvin

Photo credit: Barbican

Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde

London Symphony Orchestra/Pappano/Barbican Hall, London EC2 | 12 July, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Clare Colvin

“…a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience for its dramatic power…”

On the day of a fierce heatwave in June, it needs a firm resolve to stay alert through nearly four hours of Wagner’s unrelenting love tragedy based on the medieval story of Tristan and Isolde.  The LSO’s 2nd performance under Sir Antonio Pappano brought a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience for its dramatic power in creating the present-day human element in the semi-historical myth.

High praise to American soprano Sara Jakubiak, in her role debut as Isolde, every inch the Irish princess in vibrant green shift with diamonds at the neck. Another dramatic role debuts she is undertaking include Katerina Ismailova in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Dvorak’s Rusalka. Clay Hilley’s Tristan was in blazing form, capturing the conflicted emotions between his desire for Isolde, and his duty to his uncle King Marke, to whom she is destined as bride. Hilley is also taking the role of Tristan at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and at GranTeatre del Liceu Barcelona.

The entire cast brought out the dramatic element of the story of human failure, where the rights and wrongs are twisted by the element of superstition.   Marina Prudenskaya as Isolde’s lady Brangane secretly substitutes a love potion for Isolde’s chosen death potion, so instead of ceasing on a midnight air, the lovers wake to scenes of accusations of betrayal, violence and separation.  There’s fine and sensitive acting from all the cast, with bass Franz-Josef Selig as a shocked and angered King Marke, Hungarian baritone Gyula Orendt excellent as Tristan’s loyal friend Kurwenal, and Neal Cooper as the treacherous Sir Melot.

Both the musicians and chorus of the London Symphony Orchestra are working at top form with Chief Conductor Pappano.  Next chance to hear Pappano with the LSO, if you can get tickets, will be at the BBC Proms on15 August in Berlioz Requiem (Grande Messe des morts).

Sir Antonio Pappano conductor
Clay Hilley Tristan
Sara Jakubiak Isolde
Marina Prudenskaya Brangaene
Franz-Josef Selig King Marke
Gyula Orendt Kurwenal
Neal Cooper Melot
Michael Gibson Sailor/Shepherd
James Emerson Steersman
London Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra