Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

herself to the Virgin. As Wolfram remains on the hillside, however, Tannhäuser appears in woeful
state and tells his faithful friend that, in spite of all his penances, remorse and repentance, the
Pope, on hearing his humble plea for forgiveness, refuses to grant it to so great a sinner, declaring
that it is as impossible for him to hope for heavenly absolution as for the Holy Staff in his hand to
put forth new leaves. Filled with despair, and seeing no other course but to return to his old evil
ways, Tannhäuser is just invoking the goddess Venus once more, when there passes by the funeral
procession of Elisabeth, who, overcome with grief at the non-return of her beloved one, has just
expired; and at the same time a second band of pilgrims appears on the hillside, bringing the
wonderful news that a miracle has taken place and that the Popes Staff having put forth fresh
green leaves during the night the Holy Father therefore announces heavenly absolu tion for the
repentant sinner. All raise a hymn of thankfulness, and the pardoned Tannhäuser falls dying beside
the bier of his beloved Elisabeth.
190. TRISTAN AND ISOLDA
Grand Opera in Three Acts By Richard Wagner
Libretto By the Cormposer (Adapted frorm the old Celtic Legend)
First Produced Munich, June, 1865
Chief Characters Isolda, Brangaena, Tristan, King Mark, Kurvenal, Melot
THE scene is laid on board a vessel, in Cornwall, and in Brittany during the time of the Arthurian
Knights. Act 1 takes place on board a vessel, in which Tristan, a brave and stainless Knight, is
conveying the Irish Princess, Isolda, to Cornwall, to become the bride of his uncle, King Mark, to
whom she has been betrothed against her will. Tristan is himself in love with the beautiful
Princess; but there being a blood feud between them, and owing to his own high sense of honour,
he will not betray his trust by divulging his passion. Isolda is also in love with him; and, furious at
his cold treatment of her, she is about to poison him, when her attendant, Brangaena, horror-struck
at such a deed, changes the fatal draught for one containing a love potion, of which the pair both
partake, unwittingly, and which so inflames their unfortunate passion that they are utterly unable
to control it further, and fall into each others arms in an ecstasy.
Act 2 takes place in the palace gardens of King Mark, to whom Isolda is now united; and here the
unhappy wife enjoys stolen meetings with her lover, Tristan, the passion between the pair being so
great, owing to the magic draught they have swallowed, that they cannot keep apart. At one of
these clandestine meetings, during a royal midnight hunt, the lovers are seen by the Knight, Melot,
who, being jealous of the royal favour shown to Tristan, betrays them to King Mark, whom he
brings upon the scene. The stern and sorrowful reproaches of the noble King fill Tristan with such
grief and despair that he challenges Melot to a duel, in which he is himself mortally wounded.
In Act 3, Tristan has been conveyed by Kurvenal, his faithful henchman, to his own castle in
Brittany, where he lies dying, torn between remorse for his betrayal of his royal master and his
love and longing for Isolda. Kurvenal meanwhile has sent for the latter, who is skilled in the art of
healing; and, when she presently arrives, the lovers are quickly folded in a last passionate
embrace, for the joy of her presence is too much for the wounded man, and he dies in her arms.
King Mark has followed closely on the track of Isolda, having learnt the truth of their love-story