Posted February 27, 2012

Houston Grand Opera announced it’s 2012-13 season with 6 performance of Tristan und Isolde.  The performance begin April 14, 2013 and continue April 21, 24 and 27 and May 2 and 5.

The performances will be conducted by Patrick Summers in a Covent Garden co-production by Christof Loy with sets and costumes by Johannes Leiacker.

The cast is outstanding led by Nina Stemme as Isolde, Claudia Mahnke as Brangane, Ryan McKinny as Kurvenal, Christof Fischesser as Marke the only area wherein there may be doubt is that Ben Heppner is slated to sing Tristan.  Having bowed out of the Met Ring as Siegfried and recently cancelling appearances as Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, one wonders if Heppner will be able to navigate the rough waters of one of Wagner’s most demanding roles.

Just last Friday the Met released it’s 2012-2013 season.  Of course, we all know that 3 Ring cycles will grace the 2013 season but also announced is a new production of Parsifal with a dream cast starring Jonas Kaufmann in the title role with Rene Pape as Gurnemanz, Katarina Dalyman as Kundry, Peter Mattei and Evgeny Nikitin.  Danielle Gatti will conduct a new production created by Francois Gerard with sets and costumes by Thibault Vancraenenbroeck – a co-production with Opera National de Lyon and the Canadian Opera Company.

photo courtesy of the Houston Grand Opera website