麻豆社

ACT I

Isolde, an Irish princess, is being taken by ship from Ireland to Cornwall by Tristan, whose uncle, King Marke, plans to marry her. She becomes enraged by a sailor鈥檚 song about an Irish girl, and her maid, Brang盲ne, tries to calm her. Isolde interrogates Tristan, but he replies evasively. His companion Kurwenal loudly ridicules the Irish women and sings a mocking verse about Morold, Isolde鈥檚 fianc茅, who was killed by Tristan when he came to Cornwall to exact tribute for Ireland. Isolde, barely able to control her anger, tells Brang盲ne how the wounded Tristan came to her in disguise after his fight with Morold so that he could be healed by Isolde鈥檚 knowledge of herbs and magic (鈥淲ie lachend sie mir Lieder singen鈥�). Isolde explains to Brang盲ne that she recognized Tristan, but her determination to take revenge for Morold鈥檚 death dissolved when he pleadingly looked her in the eyes. She now bitterly regrets her reluctance to kill him and wishes death for him and herself. Brang盲ne reminds her that to marry a king is no dishonor and that Tristan is simply performing his duty. Isolde maintains that his behavior shows his lack of love for her, and asks Brang盲ne to prepare a death potion. Kurwenal tells the women to get ready to leave the ship, as shouts from the deck announce the sighting of land. Isolde insists that she will not accompany Tristan until he apologizes for his offenses. He appears and greets her with cool courtesy (鈥淗err Tristan trete nah鈥�). When she tells him she wants satisfaction for Morold鈥檚 death, Tristan offers her his sword, but she will not kill him. Instead, Isolde suggests that she and Tristan make peace with a drink of friendship. He understands that she means to poison them both, but still drinks, and she does the same. Expecting death, they exchange a long look of love, then fall into each other鈥檚 arms. Brang盲ne admits that she has in fact mixed a love potion, as sailors鈥� voices announce the ship鈥檚 arrival in Cornwall.

ACT II

In a garden outside Marke鈥檚 castle. Distant horns signal the king鈥檚 departure on a hunting party. Isolde waits impatiently for a rendezvous with Tristan, believing that the party is far off, but Brang盲ne warns her about spies, particularly Melot, a jealous knight whom she has noticed watching Tristan. Isolde replies that Melot is Tristan鈥檚 friend. She sends Brang盲ne off to stand watch and puts out the warning torch. When Tristan appears, she welcomes him passionately. They praise the darkness that shuts out the light of conventionality and false appearances and agree that they feel secure in the night鈥檚 embrace (鈥淥 sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe鈥�). Brang盲ne鈥檚 distant voice warns that it will be daylight soon (鈥淓insam wachend in der Nacht鈥�), but the lovers are oblivious to any danger and compare the night to death, which will ultimately unite them. Kurwenal rushes in with a warning: the king and his followers have returned, led by Melot, who denounces the lovers. Moved and disturbed, Marke declares that it was Tristan himself who urged him to marry and choose the bride. He does not understand how someone so dear to him could dishonor him in such a way (鈥淭atest Du鈥檚 wirklich?鈥�). Tristan cannot answer. He asks Isolde if she will follow him into the realm of death. When she accepts, Melot attacks Tristan, who falls wounded into Kurwenal鈥檚 arms.

ACT III

Tristan lies mortally ill outside Kareol, his castle in Brittany, where he is tended by Kurwenal. A shepherd inquires about his master, and Kurwenal explains that only Isolde, with her magic arts, could save him. The shepherd agrees to play a cheerful tune on his pipe as soon as he sees a ship approaching. Hallucinating, Tristan imagines the realm of night where he will return with Isolde. He thanks Kurwenal for his devotion, then envisions Isolde鈥檚 ship approaching, but the shepherd鈥檚 mournful tune signals that the sea is still empty. Tristan recalls the melody, which he heard as a child. It reminds him of the duel with Morold, and he wishes Isolde鈥檚 medicine had killed him then instead of making him suffer now. The shepherd鈥檚 tune finally turns cheerful. Tristan gets up from his sickbed in growing agitation and tears off his bandages, letting his wounds bleed. Isolde rushes in, and he falls, dying, in her arms. When the shepherd announces the arrival of another ship, Kurwenal assumes it carries Marke and Melot, and barricades the gate. Brang盲ne鈥檚 voice is heard from outside, trying to calm Kurwenal, but he will not listen and stabs Melot before he is killed himself by the king鈥檚 soldiers. Marke is overwhelmed with grief at the sight of the dead Tristan, while Brang盲ne explains to Isolde that the king has come to pardon the lovers. Isolde, transfigured, does not hear her, and with a vision of Tristan beckoning her to the world beyond (鈥淢ild und leise鈥�), she sinks dying upon his body.

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