The UK has seen a proliferation of summer opera festivals and each one has striven to develop its own unique identity. Grange Park Opera in Surrey has the largest theatre outside of Glyndebourne, boasting a seating capacity of 700, and is eager to present grand productions. This season, the company is presenting three operas from the peak of the romantic era: Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde,” Massenet’s “Werther,” and a revival of Puccini’s “Tosca,” which opened Grange Park Opera’s stunning, miniature La Scala in 2017.
The opening performance of “Tristan und Isolde” at Grange Park Opera is visually striking and captures the essence of the timeless romantic opera. The Victorian living room setting offers multiple possibilities with walls painted with a ship, a forest, and a castle, all serving as potential sets for each of the acts. Charles Edwards serves as both director and designer of the production, utilizing symbolic daylight streaming through the doors, decay and detritus in the final act, and a radiant vision of Isolde to create a mesmerizing production. However, some odd occurrences confuse the narrative, such as people wandering during the love duet, while Brangäne was supposed to be watching. In addition, Tristan exits painfully early through one door to his death, while Isolde goes out at the back of the stage, transfigured in a heavenly cloud of light, making it seem a bit disjointed.
Rachel Nicholls plays Isolde as a fiery Irish princess seething with injured fury, and Gwyn Hughes Jones, who withdrew from the role of Tristan earlier in the year in Paris, makes a return to the more appropriately sized Grange Park Opera with a powerful and clear performance. Additionally, Christine Rice takes on the role of Brangäne with a glowing voice, David Stout as a strong Kurwenal, and Matthew Rose as a resonant King Marke. The sound of the off-stage chorus singing from the balcony echoes sonorously throughout the theatre.
The Gascoigne Orchestra is conducted by Stephen Barlow and the singers are not drowned out, thanks to the theatre’s excellent acoustics and the conductor’s thoughtful direction. Although the pace slows down at the start of the production, the emotions eventually become more intense, and the chemistry between the performers crackles with electricity by the end, surpassing all expectations. A performance of “Tristan und Isolde” away from the main highways of the opera world should not be as outstanding as the one presented at Grange Park Opera.
Overall, Grange Park Opera’s rendition of “Tristan und Isolde” earns a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. The performance runs until July 9, and more information can be found on the company’s website, grangeparkopera.co.uk.
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