Finding Inspiration in Wagner’s Tannhäuser

As part of my recent European concert tour, I treated myself to an evening at the opera in Zürich to experience Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser. What a gift!

I loved immersing myself in Wagner’s music and was equally captivated by the stage production by Icelandic director Thorleifur Arnarsson. Even after four-plus hours, I left the opera house feeling excited, energized, and wonderfully refreshed in my own musical spirit.

This is just seconds before the light dims. Photography is not allowed during the show.

I find myself returning to that experience again and again as I work on my own playing. There is something incredibly inspiring about stepping away from your own music for a moment and allowing yourself to be swept up in someone else’s artistic world.

I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our own music-making is simply to be an audience member—and let the music work its magic.