Act One
Isolde feels that Tristan has betrayed her and orders her woman, Brangäne, to persuade Tristan to come to her so they can talk things out. He is very reluctant to do so. His servant, Kurwenal, declares that a hero can never be subservient to the maid whom he has courted in his uncle’s name and he sings a satirical song about Morold’s death. Isolde tells Brangäne about her first meeting with Tristan. Brangäne seeks to comfort her mistress and reminds her of the magic potions Isolde’s mother gave her to take with her on the journey to Cornwall. Isolde is desperate at the thought of being so close to the man she loves while being forced to live as the wife of another. So she plans to die with Tristan. When the latter appears, Isolde demands that he should drink the poison with her as a penance for killing Morold. Assuming that they are both now about to die, Tristan and Isolde declare their love for each other. But the potion which Brangäne has given them was not the poison. Accompanied by cheering from the people, Tristan and Isolde reach Cornwall.
King Marke has gone hunting at night with his retinue. Isolde is waiting in the garden for Tristan. Brangäne warns Isolde about Melot, Marke’s liegeman, because she is convinced that he plans to betray the lovers to his master. Isolde does not heed her. Impatiently she extinguishes the torch at the door, the signal that she and Tristan have agreed on. Tristan and Isolde are delighted to be together without the danger of being disturbed and decide to quit this world, which does not allow them to love each other, and live only for their love. At dawn King Marke, who has been alerted by Melot, appears with his retinue. Disappointed at Tristan’s betrayal of his trust and his friendship, he sees the existence of all moral values called into question. At this moment, Tristan ‘s feelings of guilt and remorse are stronger than his love for Isolde; he agrees to fight a duel with Melot and runs into the latter’s sword.
Kurwenal has taken Tristan to his home, Kareol in Brittany. As Tristan’s wound refuses to heal, Kurwenal has sent for Isolde to come and nurse his master back to health. A shepherd is keeping watch for her ship. He is to announce the arrival of the vessel by singing a merry song. Tristan’s thoughts are dwelling on his origins and his childhood, spent without the love and support of his parents. His father died after he had been conceived, his mother died after he was born. When Isolde finally arrives, she is too late; Tristan has departed his earthly life at the moment of her arrival. Brangäne has also persuaded Marke to travel to Kareol so that he can offer the lovers his forgiveness. When the king and his retinue arrive, Kurwenal tries to stop them from seeing Tristan and Isolde. In the course of the ensuing struggle, Kurwenal and Melot kill each other. Isolde follows Tristan into another world.
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