Scene : The Garden of a Castle
Cast, in order of appearance
Conductor,
DR. WILHELM FURTW ANGLER
Producer, DR. OTTO ERHARDT
Chorus Master, ROBERT AINSWORTH
Relayed from The Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden
' I readily submit this work', Wagner said of Tristan und Isolde, ' to the severest test based on my theoretical principles '. In fact, he ' forgot all theory ' and was conscious of having gone beyond his ' system '.
The third and last act of Tristan is the great climax of the drama. The music is, perhaps, the most dramatic in character and magical in effect that Wagner ever wrote.
The curtain rises upon the desolate ground before Tristan's castle. Tristan lies on a couch dying from the wound inflicted by Melot's sword. While Kurvenal is tending him, a shepherd, who is watching for the arrival of Isolde's ship, is heard piping a plaintive tune.
Tristan opens his eyes and murmurs: 'The old refrain; why, does it waken me ? Where am I ?'
Tristan's thoughts turn to Isolde, and Kurvenal tries to comfort his anguish by telling him that Isolde is expected at any moment and it may be possible for her to heal his wound. Tristan imagines that he can see Isolde's ship, but the shepherd's doleful pipe tells him that he is mistaken. Tristan becomes delirious and finally sinks back exhausted.
At last Isolde's ship arrives, and the shepherd pipes a happy tune. Tristan tears the bandage from his wound and staggers to his feet to embrace Isolde, who gently pushes him back on his couch.
The Love-glance motive is heard and as it works up to a climax Tristan dies in Isolde's arms.
In the meantime, King Mark and his followers disembark from their ship and Tristan's men, thinking they have come to take Isolde, start a fight. Kurvenal avenges Tristan by killing Melot, but is himself mortally wounded. The Love-death motive is now heard very softly on the orchestra, and it is gradually built up to an ecstatic climax. Isolde gazes at Tristan until, carried away with rapture, she falls on his body and dies. ' ,