Wagner called the extended orchestral introduction to TRISTAN UND ISOLDE the “liebestod” or Love-Death, although in English we usually call this piece the “Prelude” and the aria that concludes Act 3 the “Liebestod.” This intense music knocked over the boundaries of traditional Western harmony, opening the door to a new way of composing music. Asher Fisch conducted this opera at Seattle Opera in 2010.