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Overview
Synopsis
Tristan has been tasked with deliver the Irish princess, Isolde, to his uncle and her husband to be, King Marke of Cornwall. Isolde is furious at Tristan, and regrets sparing his life as he lay wounded on the battlefield, defeated by Isolde’s betrothed, Morold. She pitied him then and despises him now for taking her captive. Isolde orders Brangäne, her trusted companion, to prepare a poison for Tristan: she will offer to share a drink with him to make peace, killing them both. But Brangäne gives Isolde a love potion instead of a poison, and, once they taste it, their passion for each other is uncontrollable.
At King Marke’s castle, Tristan and Isolde steal a night together, under the watchful eye of Brangäne and share a series of intense duets. They know that if they are found out, their relationship would mean death, but for them death is inseparable from love. Despite Brangäne’s warnings, the couple are betrayed and Tristan’s former companion, Melot, leads King Marke directly to them. In the conflict, Tristan is mortally wounded. He returns home to Brittany, and awaits Isolde’s arrival. The more he waits, the more he passionately curses love, until his energy is spent. Isolde arrives as Tristan breathes his last. Brangäne confesses that she is responsible, but it is too late. Isolde’s love for Tristan has taken her mind, and after giving her beautiful Liebestod, she joins Tristan in death.
Wagner’s beautiful retelling of this ancient celtic myth features some of the most demanding, passionate vocal writing for any singer. At just under five hours’ running time in most productions, Tristan und Isolde is not an opera for the faint-hearted, but it is definitely a masterpiece that is worth devoting the time to.
Show Information
- Music
- Richard Wagner
- Libretto
- Richard Wagner
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1865
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Celtic antiquity, Cornwall, Brittany
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Young Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One - On the deck of Tristan’s ship, travelling from Ireland to Cornwall
Einleitung
Scene One
Westwärts schweift der Blick (Young Sailor)
Wer wagt mich zu höhnen (Isolde/Brangäne)
Scene Two
Frisch weht der Wind...Mir ekoren, mir veloren (Young Sailor/Isolde/Brangäne)
Hab acht, Tristan! Botschaft von Isolde (Kurwenal/Tristan/Brangäne/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers)
Scene Three
Weh, ach wehe! Dies zu dulden! (Brangäne/Isolde)
Welcher Wahn! Welch eitles Zürnen! (Brangäne/Isolde/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers)
Ho! he! ha! he!/Am Untermast die Segel ein!...(Sailors, Knights and Soldiers/Isolde)
Scene Four
Auf! Auf! Ihre Frauen! Frisch und froh! (Kurwenal/Isolde/Brangäne)
Scene Five
Begehrt, herrin, was ihr wünscht (Tristan/Isolde) War Morold dir so wert (Tristan/Isolde/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers)
Tristan! Isolde! Treuloser Holder (Isolde/Tristan/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers/Brangäne/Kurwenal)
Act Two - King Marke’s Castle, Cornwall
Einleitung
Scene One
Hörst du sie noch? Mir schwand schon fern der Klang (Isolde/Brangäne)
Scene Two
Isolde! Tristan! Geliebter! (Tristan/Isolde)
Getäuscht von ihm, der dich getäuscht (Isolde/Tristan)
O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe (Tristan/Isolde)
Lausch, Geliebter!/Laß mich sterben! (Isolde/Tristan)
So starben wir, um ungetrennt (Tristan/Isolde/Brangäne)
Scene Three
Rette dich, Tristan! (Kurwenal/Tristan/Melot)
Tatest du's wirklich? Wähnst du das?...Wo zu die Dienste ohne Zahl! (Marke/Tristan)
O König, Das Kann Ich Dir Nicht Sagen...Als Für Ein Frem Des Land (Tristan/Isolde)
Verräter! Ha! zu Rache, König! (Melot/Tristan)
Act Three - Tristan’s Castle, Brittany
Einleitung
Scene One
Kurwenal! He! Sag, Kurwenal! (Hirt/Kurwenal)
Die alte weise; was weckt sie mich? (Tristan/Kurwenal)
Dünkt dich das? Ich weiß es anders (Tristan/Kurwenal)
Der einst ich trotzt, aus Treu' zu dir (Kurwenal/Tristan)
Noch ist kein Schiff zo sehn! (Kurwenal/Tristan)
Bist du nun tot? Lebst du noch? (Kurwenal/Tristan)
Wie schön bist du!...Und Kurwenal, wie, du sähst sie nicht? (Kurwenal/Tristan)
Scene Two
O Diese Sonne! Ha, Dieser Tag! (Tristan/Isolde)
Ich bin's, süßester Freund! (Isolde)
Scene Three
Kurwenal! Hör! Ein zweites Schiff (Der Hirt/Kurwenal/Der Steuermann/Brangäne/Melot/Marke)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Scenes
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.