David Lang’s love fail weaves fragments from medieval versions of Tristan and Isolde with new text putting a contemporary lens on the classic love story. Taking cues from Lang’s disjointed approach and disturbances caused by the global pandemic, director Luke Landric Leonard places theatrical metaphors in the natural world with “distanced” actors performing choreographed movements in a field. Exploring the gaps of opera and filmmaking, love fail blends vocal performance and stage direction with video capture and digital effects to experience the accident of love under unusual circumstances.

love fail by David Lang
an Australian Contemporary Opera Company (AUS) and Monk Parrots (USA) production

Linda Thompson, Artistic Director
Luke Landric Leonard, Film Director/Designer

Featuring

Amelia Jones, soprano
Heather Fletcher, mezzo-soprano
Belinda Paterson, mezzo-soprano
Alexandra Amerides, contralto

Josh Landis, Tristan
Gates Leonard, Isolde
Charlotte Simcock, Izzie
Amelia Landis, Child 1
Oscar Landis, Child 2

Acknowledgments

Patrick Burns - Music Director
Fergus Nash - Sound design
Craig Pilkington, Audrey Studios - Sound mastering
Natalie Leonard - key grip

Production History
2022 Official Selection and Honorable Mention, Tokyo International Short Film Festival
2022 Official Selection, Everyday Arias Film Festival, London, England
2021 Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
2020 Australian Premiere, Yarra Valley Opera Festival

L to R: Gates Leonard (Isolde), Josh Landis (Tristan), Charlotte Simcock (Izzie)