Bill Viola: Love/Death - The Tristan Project

The book explores the 2004 production of Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde in Los Angeles, featuring the visionary video creation of Bill Viola. It tells the story of how the Los Angeles Philharmonic commissioned the opera and how it pushed the boundaries of what opera could be. The fully staged opera has been seen worldwide, and the revolutionary four-hour video and visuals created by Bill Viola continue to be celebrated.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

In 2004, the opera scene was shaken to its core by the groundbreaking production of Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde in Los Angeles. This captivating book takes readers on a behind-the-scenes journey into the creative process of American artist Bill Viola, who crafted four hours of mesmerizing video as a visual accompaniment to this profound psychological drama. It also delves into the story of how the visionary Paris Opera director Gerard Mortier commissioned this extraordinary project, pushing the boundaries of what opera could be by inviting a trio of California-based creatives to reimagine Tristan und Isolde for our modern times.

Just as the iconic Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall had recently opened its doors in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Philharmonic embarked on a daring endeavor by taking on this ambitious project. It was a risk that paid off, catapulting the orchestra into the world of music and breathtaking visuals. The fully staged opera that emerged from this collaboration has been seen in prestigious venues such as Paris, Toronto, Madrid, Tokyo, Kobe, and concert versions in cities like LA, New York, Rotterdam, London, Helsinki, Stockholm, and St. Petersburg.

However, the true legacy of this opera lies in the revolutionary four-hour video and visual masterpiece created by Bill Viola. This beautifully illustrated book serves as a testament to Viola's artistic brilliance, allowing readers to experience the magic of the opera in a whole new way. The video and visuals, which accompany the opera, continue to captivate audiences worldwide, leaving a lasting impact on the art and music communities.

This captivating book is distributed for Mercatorfonds, a foundation dedicated to supporting the arts and culture. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of music, art, and creativity to transcend boundaries and inspire the imagination.

Weight: 878g
Dimension: 227 x 290 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300270174