New Musical Tristan Previews at the Court House Theatre

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 2007 … The world premiere of Tristan, a soaring romance set to music, began previews on Thursday in the Court House Theatre.

Tristan is a musical production that was developed at the Shaw Festival and is co-written by The Shaw’s Music Director Paul Sportelli and Ensemble member Jay Turvey.

In a spa in the German Alps at the turn of the century, patients, visitors and staff witness the flourishing relationship between the dark poet Spinell (Jeff Madden) and the luminous Gabrielle (Glynis Ranney), taken away from her husband and child to recover her ailing health.

Tristan, with book, music and lyrics by Sportelli and Turvey, is a vivid adaptation of Thomas Mann’s short story of a forbidden love affair. While the conflict between duty and desire is clear, also at stake is the fundamental issue of freedom – of choice, of expression – as Gabrielle’s forbidden but impassioned playing of Wagner’s famous aria from Tristan and Isolde thrusts everyone into a new, unexpected drama.

Sportelli and Turvey were inspired to adapt Tristan into a musical in part because Mann wrote so beautifully about music in the story. To quote one of the characters, “Some beauty transcends language.” The musical has been three years in development at The Shaw with public workshops at the Shaw Festival and the Tarragon Theatre. Most recently, highlights from the production were performed as a special presentation as part of the Canadian Opera Company’s lunchtime concert series.

The cast also includes Neil Barclay as The General, Donna Belleville as Frau Spatz and Patty Jamieson as Fraulein von Osterloh; as well as Krista Colosimo, Jane Johanson, Gabrielle Jones, Peter Millard, Graeme Somerville and Mark Uhre.

Tristan is directed by Eda Holmes, with musical direction and orchestrations by Paul Sportelli, set design by Judith Bowden, costume design by William Schmuck, lighting design by Kevin Lamotte and dramaturgy by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Alison Peddie and Assistant Stage Manager Evan R. Klassen.

Tristan began preview performances Thursday, July 12; opens Saturday, July 28; and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 6.

Tristan is sponsored by TD Canada Trust Music.

The 2007 season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA, N.A.