It will be her first assignment after her maternity leave. It’s a role she has clearly been heading for ever since she first came to international notice at Operalia 10 years ago, and following her Paris Salome with more Isoldes scheduled at the Met and Brünnhilde definitely happening just over the horizon, it feels as if she is finally doing what everyone expected of her. Personally I hope she doesn’t drop Verdi and indeed continues to add Italian roles. But if she delivers as Isolde how I think she will, there’s no doubt it will feel like an arrival and the beginning of the prime years of a really great singer.

Scott Grunow agrees:

I am looking forward to Tristan und Isolde with Lise Davidsen in March 2026. I am planning to fly in again to NYC and meet up with fellow Parterrians again at the Millo Pole. The last time I saw Tristan was at the LOC with Jane Eaglen (she was at the height of her not inconsiderable best vocally, though the Liebestod lacked warmth; Michelle De Young was Brangaene; I don’t remember the Tristan). I went in leather with my then current “paramour” (also in leather) and we did put our hands on each other’s legs during certain moments, nothing too frisky, much to the chagrin of a dowdy old grumpy gus sitting next to us. (Chicago has a world-class classical music scene, but the overall ambience I find to be dowdy and provincial, yes, I am a little snob. It ain’t bright lights and Broadway around here.)