The rebirth of Tristan and Isolde

And you thought Tristan and Isolde were dead.

Devotees of Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde” know that the opera’s legendary lovers expire in the final act, as operatic lovers are prone to do. Los Angeles audiences witnessed the unhappy ending recently at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic-Paris Opera co-production the “Tristan Project” was presented in December.

In the case of the “Tristan Project,” Tristan and Isolde died only at Sunday matinees; the experimental project directed by Peter Sellars presented the opera’s three acts separately, in a semistaged performance over three weekend days, in conjunction with videos by artist Bill Viola.

But Tristan and Isolde seem to be enjoying a rebirth these days, and one with strong L.A. connections.

Besides the “Tristan Project,” which will have a fully staged production at the Paris Opera in April, a complete recording of “Tristan and Isolde” has recently been released by Titanic Records. The live recording was taken from a performance of the opera staged at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria, last February. It features Marc Deaton as Tristan and Susan Marie Pierson as Isolde, who were understudies for their respective roles in the “Tristan Project.” Deaton and Pierson provided sample performances last January at a fundraiser for the project at a private home in Pasadena.

And in December, a new, million-dollar “Tristan” recording for EMI took place in London, featuring tenor Placido Domingo, who also serves as general director of Los Angeles Opera -- which, according to a spokesman, is planning a revival of its celebrated “Tristan and Isolde,” with sets designed by Los Angeles-based artist David Hockney.