Glyndebourne Tristan und Isolde review – Ticciati impresses in pared back Wagner

Glyndebourne, Lewes
Fine conducting by Robin Ticciati and superb playing by the London Philharmonic Orchestra lift this semi-staged Wagner

Glyndebourne’s original plans for 2021 envisaged a fully staged summer revival of the late Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s distinguished production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. Things have not worked out that way because of Covid, but the Tristans have gone ahead nevertheless, in semi-staged performances directed by Daniel Dooner, described as being based on Lehnhoff’s restrained and reflective account.

Semi-staged Wagner is familiar from the concert hall, and these performances are in that mould. The main stage is given over to the full-strength London Philharmonic Orchestra under Robin Ticciati, while the singers perform on an apron and the chorus is pre-recorded. In truth, vanishingly little of Lehnhoff’s staging, and almost nothing of the sets and props, survive.

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