Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Libretto, adapted from the lyrical drama of Maurice Maeterlinck
First Produced Paris, 1902
Chief Characters Melisande, Queen Genevieve, Pelleas, Golaud, King Arkel, Little Yniold
THE curtain rises upon a charming sylvan scene, where, beside a well in the midst of the forest,
sits a lovely maiden, weeping. This is Melisande, a mysterious maiden, who has been forsaken by
her friends and protectors; and she is presently accosted by a wandering huntsman, Prince Golaud,
who, attracted by her loveliness, enters into conversation with her, endeavouring to discover her
antecedents. The beautiful stranger, however, can give him no information beyond the fact that her
name is Melisande, and that she is a friendless: wanderer. Golaud tells her of his royal home, of
his grandfather, King Arkel, his mother, Queen Genevieve, of his sick and suffering father, his
beloved younger brother, Pelleas, and his little son, Yniold he himself being a widower; and he
succeeds in somewhat comforting Melisande, with whom he falls in love, and makes his wife.
Melisande, however, though grateful for her husband's love and protection, has not yet
experienced true love herself; but when Golaud brings his mysterious bride home, and she meets
his brother Pelleas, the tragedy begins. No sooner have Pelleas and Melisande beheld each other
than a mutual and passionate love grows up within their hearts; and Golaud's jealousy is soon
aroused. Melisande, however, in spite of her joy in the presence of Pelleas, firmly resolves to
remain true to her husband, and endeavours to keep out of the way of the man she loves. In Act 2
Pelleas and Melisande meet beside an old fountain; and in her agitation on hearing the words of
love and devotion which fall from the ardent Pelleas, she drops her betrothal ring into the water,
and it is lost. She is full of fear for the wrath of Golaud, which indeed falls upon her when she
returns. Golaud has met with a slight accident whilst out hunting during her absence; and when he
hears that she has lost the ring he gave her, he is furious and commands her to seek for it, bidding
Pelleas accompany her for he is already jealous and suspicious of his brother, and seeks proof of
the latter's love for Melisande. The wretched pair therefore once more deliberately thrust in
temptation's way depart to the water grotto, not daring to offend Golaud further by telling him that
the ring is beyond recovery. The lovers still speak with each other at intervals, though they avoid
actual meetings; and on one occasion when Melisande leans forth from her chamber window in
answer to the call of Pelleas, her beautiful long hair falls down and envelops in a golden cloud the
delirious Pelleas, who kisses the shining locks passionately. This interview is interrupted by
Golaud; and Melisande now has to undergo the petty persecutions of her jealous husband, who
even becomes violent at times, twining her hair about her body, and terrifying her by his outbursts
of passionate love. Pelleas, fearing for the safety of his beloved one, pleads with his brother to be
more gentle with Melisande, whose quickly failing health alarms him; but in a violent scene
Golaud accuses him of treachery and Melisande of infidelity. In order to procure definite proofs of
his suspicions, he forces little Yniold, his young son by his first wife, to watch the actions of the
pair. In Act 4 Golaud follows Melisande to the forest fountain, where she has arranged to meet
Pelleas for the last time, to bid him farewell, having resolved to see him no more; and here he
interrupts their sorrowful and passion-ate interview, and in a paroxysm of wild jealousy springs
upon his brother from behind and slays him. In Act 5 Melisande is seen on her death-bed, after the
birth of her child; and here at last she gathers up her failing strength, and convinces her husband of
her unfailing fidelity, declaring that her unfortunate love for his brother was innocent; and as
Golaud sinks at her feet, overcome with remorse and grief, she expires.