Opera Scotland

Tristan und Isolde 1990Jutland Opera, Aarhus

Read more about the opera Tristan and Isolde

During the eighties, the Jutland Opera of Aarhus staged a series of excellent Wagner productions, including the Ring and Tristan, led by the bass Aage Haugland with the two sopranos Karin Mang-Habashi and Lisbeth Balslev. The last of these, in particular, having sung Senta for many years in Harry Kupfer's Flying Dutchman production at Bayreuth, proved an excellent Isolde, completely tireless and very moving.

A concert performance in the Usher Hall is not an ideal environment, but the Edinburgh Festival was justified in importing this little-known Danish company. All the singers, being entirely familiar with their roles, could give dramatically involved performances, though Tristan's final act sufferings were sometimes overwhelmed by the band.