Tristan und Isolde (Opera) Plot & Characters

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鈥檚 betrothed, Morold. She pitied him then and despises him now for taking her captive. Isolde orders Brang盲ne, 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 Brang盲ne gives Isolde a love potion instead of a poison, and, once they taste it, their passion for each other is uncontrollable.

At King Marke鈥檚 castle, Tristan and Isolde steal a night together, under the watchful eye of Brang盲ne 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 Brang盲ne鈥檚 warnings, the couple are betrayed and Tristan鈥檚 former companion, Melot, leads King Marke directly to them. In the conflict, Tristan is mortally wounded. He returns home to Brittany, and awaits Isolde鈥檚 arrival. The more he waits, the more he passionately curses love, until his energy is spent. Isolde arrives as Tristan breathes his last. Brang盲ne confesses that she is responsible, but it is too late. Isolde鈥檚 love for Tristan has taken her mind, and after giving her beautiful Liebestod, she joins Tristan in death.

Wagner鈥檚 beautiful retelling of this ancient celtic myth features some of the most demanding, passionate vocal writing for any singer. At just under five hours鈥� 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

Lead Characters

View all characters in Tristan und Isolde

Context

Plot

Characters

Name	Part Size	Gender	Vocal Part
Tristan	Lead	Male	Tenor
Isolde	Lead	Female	Soprano
King Marke	Supporting	Male	Baritone
Brangäne	Supporting	Female	Mezzo-Soprano
Kurwenal	Supporting	Male	Baritone
Melot	Supporting	Male	Tenor
Young Sailor / Seeman	Featured	Male	Tenor
Shepherd / Ein Hirt	Featured	Male	Tenor
A Helmsman / Ein Steuermann	Featured	Male	Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone
Chorus	Ensemble	Male	Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One - On the deck of Tristan鈥檚 ship, travelling from Ireland to Cornwall

Einleitung

Scene One

Westw盲rts schweift der Blick (Young Sailor)

Wer wagt mich zu h枚hnen (Isolde/Brang盲ne)

Scene Two

Frisch weht der Wind...Mir ekoren, mir veloren (Young Sailor/Isolde/Brang盲ne)

Hab acht, Tristan! Botschaft von Isolde (Kurwenal/Tristan/Brang盲ne/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers)

Scene Three

Weh, ach wehe! Dies zu dulden! (Brang盲ne/Isolde)

Welcher Wahn! Welch eitles Z眉rnen! (Brang盲ne/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/Brang盲ne)

Scene Five

Begehrt, herrin, was ihr w眉nscht (Tristan/Isolde) War Morold dir so wert (Tristan/Isolde/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers)

Tristan! Isolde! Treuloser Holder (Isolde/Tristan/Sailors, Knights and Soldiers/Brang盲ne/Kurwenal)

Act Two - King Marke鈥檚 Castle, Cornwall

Einleitung

Scene One

H枚rst du sie noch? Mir schwand schon fern der Klang (Isolde/Brang盲ne)

Scene Two

Isolde! Tristan! Geliebter! (Tristan/Isolde)

Get盲uscht von ihm, der dich get盲uscht (Isolde/Tristan)

O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe (Tristan/Isolde)

Lausch, Geliebter!/La脽 mich sterben! (Isolde/Tristan)

So starben wir, um ungetrennt (Tristan/Isolde/Brang盲ne)

Scene Three

Rette dich, Tristan! (Kurwenal/Tristan/Melot)

Tatest du's wirklich? W盲hnst du das?...Wo zu die Dienste ohne Zahl! (Marke/Tristan)

O K枚nig, Das Kann Ich Dir Nicht Sagen...Als F眉r Ein Frem Des Land (Tristan/Isolde)

Verr盲ter! Ha! zu Rache, K枚nig! (Melot/Tristan)

Act Three - Tristan鈥檚 Castle, Brittany

Einleitung

Scene One

Kurwenal! He! Sag, Kurwenal! (Hirt/Kurwenal)

Die alte weise; was weckt sie mich? (Tristan/Kurwenal)

D眉nkt dich das? Ich wei脽 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 sch枚n bist du!...Und Kurwenal, wie, du s盲hst sie nicht? (Kurwenal/Tristan)

Scene Two

O Diese Sonne! Ha, Dieser Tag! (Tristan/Isolde)

Ich bin's, s眉脽ester Freund! (Isolde)

Scene Three

Kurwenal! H枚r! Ein zweites Schiff (Der Hirt/Kurwenal/Der Steuermann/Brang盲ne/Melot/Marke)

Isolde鈥檚 Liebestod: Mild und leise wie er l盲chelt (Isolde)

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.

Monologues

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Scenes

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