|Startsida | Sångare | Andra artister och kreatörer | Libretton | Operahus | Jag och min operavärld | Sökord |
|Startsida | Sångare | Andra artister och kreatörer | Libretton | Operahus | Jag och min operavärld | Sökord |
Music and lyrics:Richard Wagner
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First performance at Nationaltheatret in Münich on 10 of June 1865 and 28 of August 1867
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Tristan | tenor |
| Isolde | soprano |
| Brangäne | mezzosoprano |
| King Marke | bass |
| Kurwenal | baritone |
| Melot | tenor |
| Sailor | baritone |
| Mate | tenor |
| Shepherd | tenor |
Tristan has been sent by king Mark to fetch the irish princess Isolde, whom the king has chosen as his bride, to Cornwall. Isolde is in despair at having to marry king Mark, and during the voyage Isolde has her maid Brangäne call for Tristan; but he refuses to come, and his retainer Kurwnal mocks the irish girls.
Isolde, insulted by this answer, tells Brangäne the thruth about the situation. She had once nursed a seriously wounded warrior who called himself "Tantris". It was Tristan in disguise. Her own fiancé, Morold, had been killed in battle, but one day she discovered that a sword splinter that had lodged in the head of her dead fiancé matched a chip in Tristan´s sword. When she tried to take revenge for Morold on the wounded warrior with his own sword, he opened his eyes at that very moment, and when their gazes met she had to lower the sword. She then nursed him back to health.
However, shortly afterwards Tristan returned to woo Isolde for Mark his uncle, and now the humiliated Isolde wants revenge for the slight. She orders the despairing Brangäne to pour a poisonous potion, which she will drink with Tristan. She has Tristan called and asks him to drink to a reconciliation, but he immediately realises her intentions and gladly accepts the cup of poison. They both drink; but Brangäne has instead given them a love potion. While Brangäne desperately tries to remind the two lovers that the ship is on its way into the harbour, king Mark and his retainers arrive.
Brangäne and isolde wait by Mark´s castle until the King´s hunting party is far away. Only then can they extinguish a torch as a sign to Tristan that he can approach. Brangäne warns Isolde against Melot. Whom she fears has arranged an ambush for the lovers; but Isolde still extinguishes the torch. Tristan rushes in, and the lovers abandon themselfes to each other. They lament the coming of the day and the light, when they must part: only at night can they meet. Together they long for the eternal night when they can be united for ever.
Suddenly Mark and Melot arrive and surprise the lovers. Mark reproaches Tristan with his treachery, but Tristan cannot explain himself. He asks isolde to go with him, and she promises to do so. The furious Melot wants to avenge the King and falls on Tristan, who lets his guard fall and is wounded.
Kurwenal has taken the mortally wounded tristan to his native Kareol. He has sent for Isolde. A shepherd has agreed with Kurwenal to play a merry tune when he sees Isolde´s ship approaching, but so far he plays only a sad tune.
Kurwenal tells him that Tristan is still asleep and is impatient for the arrival of Isolde.
Tristan awakes, and Kurwenal tells him what has happened. In his uncontrollable longing for Isolde, Tristan curses the love potion, and deliriously believes he sees Isolde approaching. Then the shepherd plays a happy tune and Kurwenal runs off to receive Isolde. Tristan leaps up from his bed and tears off his bandages, but just as Isolde arrives he falls dead. Another ship approaches, and when Kurwenal recognises Melot and Mark he tries to defend the place. He kills Melot, but is himself mortally wounded. Brangäne tells Isolde that she has told Mark everything; but although Mark now wishes to unite the two lovers, he has come too late.
Isolde does not hear them; in a trance-like state she expresses her joy that she can follow her beloved into the eternal night where they can never be parted, and she dies beside Tristan.
Kasper Holten
