Sweden’s Annalena Persson will make her American debut as Isolde; Clifton Forbis will sing Tristan. Peter Kazaris, long a favorite Seattle tenor and now director of SO youth programs, will direct the production designed by Robert Israel. It is the first collaboration for the two artists.

Israel’s Asher Fisch, SO principal guest conductor, will be on the podium when the staging premiers in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall here on July 31, 20l0. Six further are slated through August 21. Others in the cast have sung leading roles in the current SO production of Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen.

Greer Grimsley, its Wotan, will sing Kurwenal, and Margaret Jane Wray, Sieglinde and Third Norn, will appear as Brangäne. Stephen Milling, Fasold and Hunding in 2001 and 2005, returns as King Marke. Announcement of the new Tristan was made by SO general director Speight Jenkins on August 9, opening day of the first of three Ring cycles of the summer.

Wes Blomster