Tristan & Isolde at The Theatre in the Woods, West Horsley Place

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Tristan & Isolde must be the greatest love story ever told.

From that puzzling first phrase, landing on the Tristan chord, Wagner's late masterpiece weaves its magic. Epic – in every sense – it is one of the most extraordinary experiences, not just in the opera canon, but in western art. It is not surprising that the final act has induced heart attacks in a number of conductors.

Wagner wrote it while in temporary exile and enamoured with his mistress, Mathilde. The story – of the noble knight Tristan and his passionate love for Isolde, who has, alas, been promised to another, King Marke – reflects the composer's emotional upheaval.

For this mighty undertaking, director/designer Charlie Edwards creates a staging inspired by Wagner's original set designs. Gwyn Hughes Jones will sing Tristan at the Paris Opera before arriving at the Theatre in the Woods and Rachel Nicholls is the feisty Isolde.