How to Order | Subscribe Now | Shop Merchandise
The knight Tristan is taking an Irish princess, Isolde, to Cornwall against her will, where she will be married to Tristan’s uncle, King Marke. As they sail closer to their destination, Isolde fumes against Tristan and his past misdeeds. She sends her maiden Brangäne to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the aloof knight, but Tristan denies her request. Furthermore, his companion Kurwenal sings a song ridiculing Isolde’s fiancé, Morold, who was killed by Tristan sometime ago. Isolde’s anger flares when she hears this; she reveals to Brangäne that in the contest with Morold, Tristan was left severely wounded and it was Isolde herself that took pity on him and brought him back from death by using magic potions and herbs. Bitter about the missed opportunity to kill Tristan, Isolde instructs Brangäne to prepare a death potion. When land is sighted, Tristan finally comes to speak with Isolde. She demands vengeance. A gloomy Tristan offers himself to be slain by sword, but she proposes a toast to friendship instead. They both drink from the cup, yet instead of death, a passionate longing grips them. Brangäne confesses that she substituted a love potion in place of the fatal drink.
King Marke and his knights have left the castle to go hunting and Isolde is restlessly awaiting a reunion with Tristan in the garden. Brangäne is concerned that one of Marke’s knights, Melot, might suspect an affair. Isolde dismisses the thought and sends Brangäne away to keep watch. Tristan arrives and the lovers praise dark night, the symbolic realm of eternal love and truth. Tangled up in passionate embrace they remain oblivious to the passage of time – and Brangäne’s shouted warnings – and are soon discovered by King Marke and his men. Marke is heartbroken, uncomprehending, and asks Tristan why he would betray him. Tristan is unable to offer an explanation and only asks Isolde if she is willing to follow him into the land of darkness. She replies that she will. Melot attacks with a drawn sword and Tristan is wounded.
Tristan, with Kurwenal by his side, lies wounded at his castle. Isolde is the only person who can heal him and she is expected to arrive by ship; a shepherd will play a cheerful song when she does. Increasingly agitated, Tristan wishes Isolde had killed him after the duel with Morold instead of letting him live as he does now, in a state of agony. The shepherd’s pipe announces Isolde’s arrival. In his extreme excitement to see her, Tristan tears the bandages from his wounds. He staggers into Isolde’s arms and dies. Marke arrives with his knights but, before they can explain that the King is there to forgive all, Kurwenal kills Melot and is himself killed. Surrounded by grief, Isolde experiences a joyous vision of the world beyond. She collapses on Tristan’s body and dies.
Video still by Bill Viola, from the Opéra national de Paris production of Tristan und Isolde. Photo: Kira Perov © 2005
Production Sponsor
Generously underwritten by Lisa Balfour Bowen and Walter M. Bowen; Philip Deck and Kimberley Bozak; Donald O’Born; Colleen Sexsmith; and Sandra L. Simpson.
Please note special start times.