Tristan and Isolda

Richard Wagner. Tristan and Isolda

Tristan and Isolda Opera in Three Acts

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Michel Boto and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

[Transcriber's note: The German text is not included in this eBook.]

GRAND OPERA

LIBRETTOS

GERMAN

AND ENGLISH TEXT

AND MUSIC OF THE LEADING MOTIVES

TRISTAN

UND ISOLDE

(TRISTAN AND ISOLDA)

BY

WAGNER

OLIVER DITSON COMPANY

BOSTON

CHAS. H. DITSON &CO

New York

LYON &HEALY

Chicago

TRISTAN

AND ISOLDA

OPERA IN THREE ACTS

BY

RICHARD WAGNER

BOSTON

OLIVER DITSON COMPANY

CHAS. H. DITSON &CO.

NEW YORK

LYON &HEALY

CHICAGO

THE STORY OF

'TRISTAN AND ISOLDA'

ACT I

Tristan, a valiant Cornish knight, is bringing Isolda, princess of

Ireland, over as a bride for his uncle, King Mark. He is himself in

love with her, but owing to a blood feud between them, forces himself

to conceal his passion. Isolda, in anger at his seeming unkindness,

attempts to poison herself and him, but her attendant, Brangaena,

changes the draft for a love potion, which enflames their passion

beyond power of restraint.

ACT II

Isolda has been wedded to King Mark, but holds stolen interviews with

Tristan, during one of which they are surprised, for Tristan has been

betrayed by a jealous friend, Melot. Touched by King Mark's bitter

reproaches, Tristan provokes Melot to fight and suffers himself to be

mortally wounded.

ACT III

Tristan's faithful servant, Kurvenal, has carried his wounded master

to his native home in Brittany, where he is carefully tended. Isolda

has also been sent for, as being skilled above all others in the

healing art. The excitement of her approach only hastens Tristan's

death, and he breathes his last sigh in her arms. Mark has followed

Isolda; he has had matters explained, and is prepared to reunite the

lovers, but it is too late. Isolda utters her lament over the body of

her lover, and her heart breaks: in death alone are they united.

* * * * *

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

TRISTAN

KING MARK

ISOLDA

KURVENAL

MELOT

BRANGAENA

A SHEPHERD

A STEERSMAN

SAILORS, KNIGHTS, AND ESQUIRES

TRISTAN AND ISOLDA.

ACT I.

[A pavilion erected on the deck of a ship, richly hung with

tapestry, quite closed in at back at first. A narrow hatchway at one

side leads below into the cabin.]

SCENE I.

ISOLDAon a couch, her face buried in the cushions.

-BRANGAENA holding open a curtain, looks over the side of the

vessel.

THE VOICE OF A YOUNG SAILOR (from above as if at the

mast-head).

ISOLDA (starting up suddenly).

What wight dares insult me?

(She looks round in agitation.)

Brangaena, ho!

Say, where sail we?

BRANGAENA (at the opening).

Bluish stripes

are stretching along the west:

swiftly sails

the ship to shore;

if restful the sea by eve

we shall readily set foot on land.

ISOLDA. What land?

BRANGAENA. Cornwall's verdant strand.

ISOLDA. Never more!