In act one of Wagner's "Tristan And Isolde", the loving couple of this grand opera do not start as such. Tristan and Isolde in fact being at odds with each other as they confront each other with coldness and an apparent indifference. Tristan and Isolde however are given a love potion by Isolde's lady in waiting Brangäne, who defies Isolde's orders by not giving them the poison she had originally ordered her to. Naturally, as can be expected Tristan and Isolde instantly fall under the spell of love which the brew they have drank has cast them in to as it does not take long for neither one of them to be able to see beyond the other and the uncontrollable passion which they inspire in each other.
It is an act two of Wagner's "Tristan And Isolde" however that our story truly begins as we are able to appreciate the true love and desire which Tristan and Isolde hold for each other which leads them to be willing to risk all for the sake of being the one with the other. Tristan and Isolde being forced to meet in secret as it is Isolde who is married to Tristan's uncle; King Marke. Isolde having been handed over to King Marke by his nephew Tristan who won her in a tournament in order to keep peace between the kingdoms of Ireland and Kurwenal.
As for act two of "Tristan And Isolde" it begins with Wagner's anxious introduction of mystery and deceit as if anticipating something not only exciting to take place at any moment but also as if warning of danger. It is in the scene created by not only Wagner's music but King Marke's dark castle that we find Isolde waiting for Tristan. Isolde as is often the case is in the society of Brangäne who is telling her lady that she fears that her gazes upon Tristan and the ones returned to her; have been noticed by Tristan's knights who appear to be getting wise to what is going on between the two of them. Isolde however dismisses Brangäne's fears as being trivial since she knows Melot to be a good friend of Tristan's; who in her esteem would never do anything to harm him. Brangäne however is frightened as if her instinct told her something evil were about to occur yet Isolde is too much stricken in the ways of the amorous to pay her mind beyond merely listening to her words.
As for King Marke, it is he and his men who have gone out for late hunting which gives Isolde the confidence she requires that she and Tristan will have all the privacy their actions of intimacy oblige. This sensation in Isolde also being aided by the sounds of the hunting horns in the distance which give the appearance though perhaps false that the danger which King Marke represents is at a distance which is far enough away that neither she nor Tristan need worry about. Tristan and Isolde even having a prearranged signal which is "Nicht Hörnerschall tönt so hold".
It is however in this atmosphere of desire and passion to drive wild the emotion of adoration that Tristan arrives. The lovers are ecstatic at the sight of each other as they explode with joy which they express with all the lust in their voices as they call out each other's name. Brangäne naturally retires to keep guard over the couple once Tristan has arrived to keep her lady occupied in the ways of carnal desires.
Joy of the most extraordinaire kind is upon them as they are joined at last and can feel the other's desires as they satisfy their own yet theirs is also the relief of being able to quench their thirst for the reality which only night time can offer. The day time being the time which obliges them to hide their emotions while the darkness of night permits them the freedom of each other. Tristan also remarking to the understandings of Isolde that their freedom of total expression in love will along be brought to them in the darkness of the complete and eternal sleep which is death"O sink' hernieder, Nacht der Liebe". Tristan's and Isolde's bodies not only engage each other in sexuality but even imitate their fantasies to become tools of their imagination as they engage in carnal activities to create its own images of paradise as the two are unaware of limitations. Their bodies being guided by the melodies of Wagner's erotic masterpiece as well their complete devotion to each other as Tristan and Isolde deliver all and take all as the night progresses. Tristan and Isolde's passions of all kind being legendary as to create a tryst to last through out the entire time of night till the day breaks yet it as the light is about to raise that Brangäne hails a warning which is inaudible to love's fashions.
Tristan and Isolde getting caught by king Marke and though they were not in the act of ultimate intimacy at the moment in which they were spotted; their situation was still one which would be most difficult to explain or even lie one's way out of. As Isolde's body was being held most tenderly by Tristan while her wears were nowhere near being completely upon her body. Tristan and Isolde are naturally horrified that they have been caught yet Marke is devastated for many reasons to include that Melot of all people has betrayed his friendship with Tristan while his wife has disgraced their vows of matrimony yet his heaviest grief is that Tristan has been disloyal. King Marke seeming like a child who has lost all as he seems to be crying how can he live on or place his faith in anything if Tristan, whom swore was loyal has betrayed; "Mir - dies? Dies, Tristan - mir?". Marke almost refusing to believe his sense of sight which has revealed to him without the slightest doubt that the ones he trusted beyond reproach have betrayed this faith which he so generously bestowed upon them.
King Marke naturally once his shock has worn off questions Tristan as to the reasons for his more than apparent betrayal yet he merely replies that his reasons would not be understood. Isolde also claiming the same in her solidarity with Tristan yet just as the two lovers are about to make their way from the scene of deception a fight ensues between Tristan and Melot. Tristan is clearly the better fighter who is more than capable of defeating his friend without any trouble yet inexplicably casts his sword on the ground at the most crucial moment. Melot taking advantage of this situation to strike Tristan and seriously wound him. This just as act II comes to an end.
The story of act two of "Tristan And Isolde" is most dramatic as we experience so much from total desire and lust to the despair of those who would rather die than live apart and are even looking to do so to king Marke; who is completely devastated. As if he had been hit by a horrible force when he discovered what so many in his court seemed to already be aware of. Of course all of the drama and erotic emotions and passions could not be better accompanied then by Wagner's score which seems to push the scenes upon our senses as a tornado might a car in to a house. It demonstrating such power to accentuate all the sensations when Tristan and Isolde will their bodies to comply with their own lusts or when Tristan allows himself to be beaten by his friend Melot in order that death might bring about his union to the one life was not allowing him.
In conclusion, I would say that Tristan And Isolde is definitely one of the grandest operones ever made and though it does not include bombastic backgrounds as is the case with other Wagner opera such as "Gotterdammerung" or "Tannhauser"; it definitely captures all the greatness of the famous love story which is "Tristan And Isolde". "Tristan And Isolde" also being one of those operas which along with many others is one which no opera fan or anybody who hopes to become one; should ever go without hearing. It being with so much passion that I recommend it to any and where the opera in and of itself is great; it is when performed by greats such as Placido Domingo and Waltraud Meier that Wagner's music is truly brought to live in the form that the great maestro himself dubbed "total art". Waltraud Meier being such that her voice not only interprets Isolde as if she were the reincarnated princess herself but even looks the part with her natural crimson mane. All of which to create a memorable night for any opera lover.
My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book "New York's Opera Society". My works also include the books "What Should Not Matter", "Love Your Sister" and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.
In act one of Wagner's "Tristan And Isolde", the loving couple of this grand opera do not start as such. Tristan and Isolde in fact being at odds with each other as they confront each other with coldness and an apparent indifference. Tristan and Isolde however are given a love potion by Isolde's lady in waiting Brangäne, who defies Isolde's orders by not giving them the poison she had originally ordered her to. Naturally, as can be expected Tristan and Isolde instantly fall under the spell of love which the brew they have drank has cast them in to as it does not take long for neither one of them to be able to see beyond the other and the uncontrollable passion which they inspire in each other.
It is an act two of Wagner's "Tristan And Isolde" however that our story truly begins as we are able to appreciate the true love and desire which Tristan and Isolde hold for each other which leads them to be willing to risk all for the sake of being the one with the other. Tristan and Isolde being forced to meet in secret as it is Isolde who is married to Tristan's uncle; King Marke. Isolde having been handed over to King Marke by his nephew Tristan who won her in a tournament in order to keep peace between the kingdoms of Ireland and Kurwenal.
As for act two of "Tristan And Isolde" it begins with Wagner's anxious introduction of mystery and deceit as if anticipating something not only exciting to take place at any moment but also as if warning of danger. It is in the scene created by not only Wagner's music but King Marke's dark castle that we find Isolde waiting for Tristan. Isolde as is often the case is in the society of Brangäne who is telling her lady that she fears that her gazes upon Tristan and the ones returned to her; have been noticed by Tristan's knights who appear to be getting wise to what is going on between the two of them. Isolde however dismisses Brangäne's fears as being trivial since she knows Melot to be a good friend of Tristan's; who in her esteem would never do anything to harm him. Brangäne however is frightened as if her instinct told her something evil were about to occur yet Isolde is too much stricken in the ways of the amorous to pay her mind beyond merely listening to her words.
As for King Marke, it is he and his men who have gone out for late hunting which gives Isolde the confidence she requires that she and Tristan will have all the privacy their actions of intimacy oblige. This sensation in Isolde also being aided by the sounds of the hunting horns in the distance which give the appearance though perhaps false that the danger which King Marke represents is at a distance which is far enough away that neither she nor Tristan need worry about. Tristan and Isolde even having a prearranged signal which is "Nicht Hörnerschall tönt so hold".
It is however in this atmosphere of desire and passion to drive wild the emotion of adoration that Tristan arrives. The lovers are ecstatic at the sight of each other as they explode with joy which they express with all the lust in their voices as they call out each other's name. Brangäne naturally retires to keep guard over the couple once Tristan has arrived to keep her lady occupied in the ways of carnal desires.
Joy of the most extraordinaire kind is upon them as they are joined at last and can feel the other's desires as they satisfy their own yet theirs is also the relief of being able to quench their thirst for the reality which only night time can offer. The day time being the time which obliges them to hide their emotions while the darkness of night permits them the freedom of each other. Tristan also remarking to the understandings of Isolde that their freedom of total expression in love will along be brought to them in the darkness of the complete and eternal sleep which is death"O sink' hernieder, Nacht der Liebe". Tristan's and Isolde's bodies not only engage each other in sexuality but even imitate their fantasies to become tools of their imagination as they engage in carnal activities to create its own images of paradise as the two are unaware of limitations. Their bodies being guided by the melodies of Wagner's erotic masterpiece as well their complete devotion to each other as Tristan and Isolde deliver all and take all as the night progresses. Tristan and Isolde's passions of all kind being legendary as to create a tryst to last through out the entire time of night till the day breaks yet it as the light is about to raise that Brangäne hails a warning which is inaudible to love's fashions.
Tristan and Isolde getting caught by king Marke and though they were not in the act of ultimate intimacy at the moment in which they were spotted; their situation was still one which would be most difficult to explain or even lie one's way out of. As Isolde's body was being held most tenderly by Tristan while her wears were nowhere near being completely upon her body. Tristan and Isolde are naturally horrified that they have been caught yet Marke is devastated for many reasons to include that Melot of all people has betrayed his friendship with Tristan while his wife has disgraced their vows of matrimony yet his heaviest grief is that Tristan has been disloyal. King Marke seeming like a child who has lost all as he seems to be crying how can he live on or place his faith in anything if Tristan, whom swore was loyal has betrayed; "Mir - dies? Dies, Tristan - mir?". Marke almost refusing to believe his sense of sight which has revealed to him without the slightest doubt that the ones he trusted beyond reproach have betrayed this faith which he so generously bestowed upon them.
King Marke naturally once his shock has worn off questions Tristan as to the reasons for his more than apparent betrayal yet he merely replies that his reasons would not be understood. Isolde also claiming the same in her solidarity with Tristan yet just as the two lovers are about to make their way from the scene of deception a fight ensues between Tristan and Melot. Tristan is clearly the better fighter who is more than capable of defeating his friend without any trouble yet inexplicably casts his sword on the ground at the most crucial moment. Melot taking advantage of this situation to strike Tristan and seriously wound him. This just as act II comes to an end.
The story of act two of "Tristan And Isolde" is most dramatic as we experience so much from total desire and lust to the despair of those who would rather die than live apart and are even looking to do so to king Marke; who is completely devastated. As if he had been hit by a horrible force when he discovered what so many in his court seemed to already be aware of. Of course all of the drama and erotic emotions and passions could not be better accompanied then by Wagner's score which seems to push the scenes upon our senses as a tornado might a car in to a house. It demonstrating such power to accentuate all the sensations when Tristan and Isolde will their bodies to comply with their own lusts or when Tristan allows himself to be beaten by his friend Melot in order that death might bring about his union to the one life was not allowing him.
In conclusion, I would say that Tristan And Isolde is definitely one of the grandest operones ever made and though it does not include bombastic backgrounds as is the case with other Wagner opera such as "Gotterdammerung" or "Tannhauser"; it definitely captures all the greatness of the famous love story which is "Tristan And Isolde". "Tristan And Isolde" also being one of those operas which along with many others is one which no opera fan or anybody who hopes to become one; should ever go without hearing. It being with so much passion that I recommend it to any and where the opera in and of itself is great; it is when performed by greats such as Placido Domingo and Waltraud Meier that Wagner's music is truly brought to live in the form that the great maestro himself dubbed "total art". Waltraud Meier being such that her voice not only interprets Isolde as if she were the reincarnated princess herself but even looks the part with her natural crimson mane. All of which to create a memorable night for any opera lover.
My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book "New York's Opera Society". My works also include the books "What Should Not Matter", "Love Your Sister" and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.
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