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Last broadcast on Sat, 6 Dec 2008, 16:00 on BBC Radio 3.
Synopsis
Daniel Barenboim makes his Met debut conducting Katarina Dalayman as Isolde, alongside Gary Lehman as Tristan in Wagner's powerful and highly influential opera exploring of the agony and ecstasy of erotic love.
After unwittingly drinking a love potion, Tristan and Isolde fall deeply in love with each other, but their romance faces opposition from King Brangane and can only end in tragedy.
The programme, which also includes backstage interviews with the artists during the intervals, is presented from New York by Margaret Juntwait, with guest commentator Ira Siff.
Tristan ...... Gary Lehman (tenor)
Isolde ...... Katarina Dalayman (soprano)
Brangane ...... Michelle DeYoung (mezzo-soprano)
Kurwenal ...... Gerd Grochowski (baritone)
King Marke ...... Kwangchul Youn (baritone)
Melot ...... Stephen Gaertner (baritone)
Shepherd ...... Mark Schowalter (tenor)
Steersman ...... James Courtney (baritone)
Young Sailor ...... Matthew Plenk (tenor)
Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera
Daniel Barenboim (conductor).
Photo Gallery
View a selection of photographs from the Metropolitan Opera production.
Synopsis - ACT ONE
Isolde, an Irish princess, is being taken by ship from Ireland to Cornwall by Tristan, whose uncle, King Marke, plans to marry her.
She becomes enraged by a sailor’s song about an Irish girl, and her maid, Brangäne, tries to calm her. Isolde interrogates Tristan, but he replies evasively.
His companion Kurwenal loudly ridicules the Irish women and sings a mocking verse about Morold, Isolde’s fiancé, who was killed by Tristan when he came to Cornwall to exact tribute for Ireland.
Isolde, barely able to control her anger, tells Brangäne how the wounded Tristan came to her in disguise after his fight with Morold so that he could be healed by Isolde’s knowledge of herbs and magic (“Wie lachend sie mir Lieder singen”).
Isolde explains to Brangäne that she recognized Tristan, but her determination to take revenge for Morold’s death dissolved when he pleadingly looked her in the eyes.
She now bitterly regrets her reluctance to kill him and wishes death for him and herself.
Act 1 (continued)
Brangäne reminds her that to marry a king is no dishonor and that Tristan is simply performing his duty.
Isolde maintains that his behavior shows his lack of love for her, and asks Brangäne to prepare a death potion.
Kurwenal tells the women to get ready to leave the ship, as shouts from the deck announce the sighting of land.
Isolde insists that she will not accompany Tristan until he apologizes for his offenses.
He appears and greets her with cool courtesy (“Herr Tristan trete nah”).
When she tells him she wants satisfaction for Morold’s death, Tristan offers her his sword, but she will not kill him.
Instead, Isolde suggests that she and Tristan make peace with a drink of friendship.
He understands that she means to poison them both, but still drinks, and she does the same.
Expecting death, they exchange a long look of love, then fall into each other’s arms.
Brangäne admits that she has in fact mixed a love potion, as sailors’ voices announce the ship’s arrival in Cornwall.
Act 2
In a garden outside Marke’s castle. Distant horns signal the king’s departure on a hunting party.
Isolde waits impatiently for a rendezvous with Tristan, believing that the party is far off, but Brangäne warns her about spies, particularly Melot, a jealous knight whom she has noticed watching Tristan. Isolde replies that Melot is Tristan’s friend.
She sends Brangäne off to stand watch and puts out the warning torch. When Tristan appears, she welcomes him passionately.
They praise the darkness that shuts out the light of conventionality and false appearances and agree that they feel secure in the night’s embrace (“O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe”).
Brangäne’s distant voice warns that it will be daylight soon (“Einsam wachend in der Nacht”), but the lovers are oblivious to any danger and compare the night to death, which will ultimately unite them. Kurwenal rushes in with a warning: the king and his followers have returned, led by Melot, who denounces the lovers.
Moved and disturbed, Marke declares that it was Tristan himself who urged him to marry and choose the bride. He does not understand how someone so dear to him could dishonor him in such a way (“Tatest Du’s wirklich?”).
Tristan cannot answer. He asks Isolde if she will follow him into the realm of death.
When she accepts, Melot attacks Tristan, who falls wounded into Kurwenal’s arms.
Broadcast
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Sat 6 Dec 200816:00
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