from Act III of the German opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Isolde, an Irish princess

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic soprano

Setting: Tristan's castle at Karoel, Brittany, legendary times

Synopsis: After Tristan has died, Isolde looks upon him in a trance. She believes that she sees her beloved coming back to life as she hears a lovely melody around her. The hallucinations become stronger and stronger until, at last, she falls down dead next to Tristan.

from Act I of the German opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Isolde, an Irish princess

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic soprano

Setting: on a ship to Cornwall, legendary times

Synopsis: In a long narrative, Isolde tells the background of the opera. She was affianced to Morald who was killed by Tristan. Isolde decided to kill Tristan but then met him and fell in love with him and figured she would let him live. Later, though, he came back to take her to Cornwall to King Marke. This act angered her even more than the death of her fiance and now she plans to kill him again.

from Act I of the German opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Kurwenal, one of Tristan's retainers

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: on a ship to Cornwall, legendary times

Synopsis: Kurnewal sings a ballad about Tristan's victory over Morald, Isolde's fiance. The song is full of taunts designed to provoke Isolde.

from Act III of the German opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Tristan, a Cornish knight and nephew to King Marke

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: Tristan's castle at Karoel, Brittany, legendary times

Synopsis: Gravely injured, Tristan regains consciousness and remembers his beloved Isolde, whom he hopes will come soon to him.

from Act III of the German opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Tristan, a Cornish knight and nephew to King Marke

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: Tristan's castle at Karoel, Brittany, legendary times

Synopsis: After Kurnewal tells him that Isolde will soon be coming by ship, the somewhat delirious Tristan tells Kurnewal that he is a good man and then proceeds to wonder where the ship is. His memories wander to his childhood. After his thoughts return to the present time, he falls unconscious again.

from Act III of the German opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Tristan, a Cornish knight and nephew to King Marke

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: Tristan's castle at Karoel, Brittany, legendary times

Synopsis: As his delirium subsides, Tristan thinks calmly about Isolde and her sweet visage.