Their love rose free like the sea breeze.
And it came suddenly like a summer storm.
Their love did not take the easy way,
Therefore, it remained forever and became a legend.
The producers of the musicals "Eglė zalčių karalienė" and "The legend of Žygimantas Augustus and Barboras Radvilaitė" present a new Lithuanian musical "Tristanas ir Izolda/Forbidden love".
The work for the big stage based on the world-famous legend was created entirely by a Lithuanian team.
The premiere of the musical "Tristan and Isolde/Forbidden love" is already this December in the biggest arenas in Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Panevėžys and Klaipėda. The construction of the arenas will be characterized by scenography specially designed for large halls, surround sound, light performances and never-before-seen special effects, which will create an extremely realistic and engaging impression of participation for the audience.
The main roles in the new musical are created by professionals of this genre - Karina Krysko (Isolde) and Jeronimas Milius (Tristan). "Tristan and Isolde" is an extremely mature work, it reflects a very wide range of feelings: strong and pure love, honorable duty, dark prejudices of society, boundless self-sacrifice. We can identify with many of these feelings that burned centuries ago. The story of Tristan and Isolde's forbidden love has not only become a Celtic legend of great beauty, but it is still relevant for passionate lovers," say Karina and Jeronimas, the performers of the main roles.
The production of a new big-budget musical is directed by Kostas Smoriginas, who directed the latest version of the rock opera "Jūratė ir Kastytis", which received enormous interest and great appreciation. In the new musical, we will also see him on stage: in the role of King Mark of Cornwall (England).
"Tristan and Isolde" is a world-famous 12th-century Celtic legend that inspired the later popular love story of Romeo and Juliet.
Isolde is an Irish princess destined to become the wife of King Mark of Cornwall. Tristan is a young knight who faithfully serves the king. Loving his wife is tantamount to treason.
However, Tristan cannot resist the extremely strong feeling that strikes him like lightning as soon as he sees Isolde. The princess also falls in love with the young knight. Neither their age difference (Isolde is older than her lover), nor social status (Isolde – noble, Tristan – poor), nor moral norms (a married woman is strictly forbidden to love someone other than her husband, a servant is not even allowed to look at the king's wife) stops the woman.
Both realize the danger to their love. However, the feeling that engulfed both of them is so powerful that neither of them has the will or strength to resist. Forbidden love becomes unstoppable. Isolde, with the help of her maid Brangane, finds ways to secretly meet Tristan. Love, which was only spiritual, also becomes physical.
Passion overshadows common sense, but the premonition of disaster does not leave either. They understand that such a relationship is doomed to tragedy in advance. And it happens even faster than expected: a rumor spreads in Ireland that their princess Isolde is not properly respected in England. She is not only the king's wife, but also the concubine of a rogue knight. The enraged Irish attack England to defend the princess's honor and a tragic finale becomes inevitable.
Although Tristan and Isolde's love cannot live happily ever after, their story has become a symbol of love stronger than death throughout the ages. It is a love that comes unexpectedly, uncontrollably, regardless of age, social status, or societal norms. This kind of love, sung by the troubadours of the 12th century, is well known even today.
Not all of us can admit to ourselves that we have experienced "forbidden love" at least once. While watching the musical, we will silently remember it. It wasn't necessarily happy, it wasn't necessarily mutual, it wasn't necessarily destined to become a reality, but the knowledge that feeling can be stronger than common sense has been in our consciousness since the days of Tristan and Isolde.
