The New Yorker – Culture/Books

Yuval Sharon Reimagines the Canon

Yuval Sharon, famed for reimagining classic operas, will debut his production of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” at the Met next week, casting the mythic lovers as a contemporary couple. His two‑decade career includes staging “Götterdämmerung” in a Detroit parking garage and a turntable‑driven “Orfeo” in 2023. Sharon credits recent readings—Dante’s *Purgatorio* in Mary Jo Bang’s modern translation, Byung‑Chul Han’s *The Disappearance of Rituals*, and Ben Okri’s *Starbook*—for shaping his blend of reverence and modern relevance. The article highlights his philosophy of liberating opera’s spirit for today’s audience.