How ‘American Psycho’ and Marina Abramovic Fed the Met Opera’s ‘Tristan’
nytimes.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Metropolitan Opera's new production of Wagner’s "Tristan und Isolde," directed by Yuval Sharon with set design by Es Devlin, emphasizes themes of duality and doubling through a spatial concept contrasting everyday life and a mythical realm of heightened emotions.
- A key scene at the end of the first act features a striking visual where dancers replace the principal singers at a table, transitioning to an elevated stage framed by a giant iris, with a projected knife blade emphasizing the epic emotional stakes.
- Projection designer Jason H. Thompson highlighted the scene's complexity, noting that its success depends on precise synchronization among singers, actors, musicians, and technicians.
- The creative team drew inspiration from a diverse range of artists and influences, including sculptors like Barbara Hepworth and Brancusi, as well as filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai, integrating these elements to enhance the production's emotional and visual depth.
