The highly anticipated Tristan and Isolde opera, directed by visionary theatre and opera auteur Robert Wilson, will make its debut at the Ljubljana Opera House on February 5th, 2026. This landmark production, co-produced with La Monnaie in Brussels, Teatro Real in Madrid, and Opera Wrocław, promises to be a defining moment of the European opera season.
A historic Tristan and Isolde opera for Slovenia
Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde is widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of Western classical music, and this will mark the first Slovenian staging of the masterpiece. The opera’s complex exploration of love, desire, and fate is brought vividly to life under Wilson’s direction, offering audiences a deeply immersive theatrical and musical experience.
Robert Wilson’s unique vision
In his nearly six-decade career, Robert Wilson has established a reputation for blending precise visual storytelling, striking stage design, and experimental theatrical techniques. For this production, Wilson’s direction emphasizes the opera’s dreamlike intensity through carefully orchestrated lighting, minimalistic yet evocative set design, and meticulous attention to the pacing of both music and dramatic performance.
Audiences can expect a production that is both visually stunning and emotionally powerful, combining Wagner’s rich score with Wilson’s distinctive avant-garde sensibility. The premiere promises not only a musical celebration but also a theatrical journey that will resonate across Europe.
We invite you to read our interview with Robert Wilson, in which he discusses truth in performance, the body as a language and theatre as a living dialogue. Conducted shortly before his death, this conversation offers a rare insight into Wilson’s lifelong enquiry.
Courtesy of LJUBLJANA OPERA HOUSE
