Act I. Wagner wisely refrains from actually placing before us on the
stage, the events that transpired in Ireland before _Tristan_ was despatched thither to bring _Isolde_ as a bride to _King Marke_. The events, which led to the two meetings between _Tristan_ and _Isolde_, are told in _Isolde's_ narrative, which forms an important part of the first act. This act opens aboard the vessel in which _Tristan_ is conveying _Isolde_ to Cornwall.
The opening scene shows _Isolde_ reclining on a couch, her face hid in soft pillows, in a tent-like apartment on the forward deck of a vessel. It is hung with rich tapestries, which hide the rest of the ship from view. _Brangäne_ has partially drawn aside one of the hangings and is gazing out upon the sea. From above, as though from the rigging, is heard the voice of a young _Sailor_ singing a farewell song to his "Irish maid." It has a wild charm and is a capital example of Wagner's skill in giving local colouring to his music. The words, "Frisch weht der Wind der Heimath zu" (The wind blows freshly toward our home) are sung to a phrase which occurs frequently in the course of this scene. It represents most graphically the heaving of the sea and may be appropriately termed the Ocean Motive. It undulates gracefully through _Brangäne's_ reply to _Isolde's_ question as to the vessel's course, surges wildly around _Isolde's_ outburst of impotent anger when she learns that Cornwall's shore is not far distant, and breaks itself in savage fury against her despairing wrath as she invokes the elements to destroy the ship and all upon it. =Ocean Motive.=
[Music]
It is her hopeless passion for _Tristan_ which has prostrated _Isolde_, for the Motive of the Love Glance accompanies her first exclamation as she starts up excitedly.
_Isolde_ calls upon _Brangäne_ to throw aside the hangings, that she may have air. _Brangäne_ obeys. The deck of the ship, and, beyond it, the ocean, are disclosed. Around the mainmast sailors are busy splicing ropes. Beyond them, on the after deck, are knights and esquires. A little aside from them stands _Tristan_, gazing out upon the sea. At his feet reclines _Kurwenal_, his esquire. The young sailor's voice is again heard.
_Isolde_ beholds _Tristan_. Her wrath at the thought that he whom she loves is bearing her as bride to another vents itself in a vengeful phrase. She invokes death upon him. This phrase is the =Motive of Death=.
[Music]
The Motive of the Love Glance is heard--and gives away _Isolde's_ secret--as she asks _Brangäne_ in what estimation she holds _Tristan_. It develops into a triumphant strain as _Brangäne_ sings his praises. _Isolde_ then bids her command _Tristan_ to come into her presence. This command is given with the Motive of Death, for it is their mutual death _Isolde_ wishes to compass. As _Brangäne_ goes to do her mistress's bidding, a graceful variation of the Ocean Motive is heard, the bass marking the rhythmic motions of the sailors at the ropes. _Tristan_ refuses to leave the helm and when _Brangäne_ repeats _Isolde's_ command, _Kurwenal_ answers in deft measures in praise of _Tristan_. Knights, esquires, and sailors repeat the refrain. The boisterous measures--"Hail to our brave Tristan!"--form the =Tristan Call=.
[Music: Heil unser Held Tristan,]
_Isolde's_ wrath at _Kurwenal's_ taunts find vent in a narrative in which she tells _Brangäne_ that once a wounded knight calling himself Tantris landed on Ireland's shore to seek her healing art. Into a niche in his sword she fitted a sword splinter she had found imbedded in the head of Morold, which had been sent to her in mockery after he had been slain in a combat with the Cornish foe. She brandished the sword over the knight, whom thus by his weapon she knew to be _Tristan_, her betrothed's slayer. But _Tristan's_ glance fell upon her. Under its spell she was powerless. She nursed him back to health, and he vowed eternal gratitude as he left her. The chief theme of this narrative is derived from the Tristan Motive.
[Music]
What of the boat, so bare, so frail, That drifted to our shore? What of the sorely stricken man feebly extended there? Isolde's art he humbly sought; With balsam, herbs, and healing salves, From wounds that laid him low, She nursed him back to strength.
Exquisite is the transition of the phrase "His eyes in mine were gazing," to the Isolde and Love Glance motives. The passage beginning: "Who silently his life had spared," is followed by the Tristan Call, _Isolde_ seeming to compare sarcastically what she considers his betrayal of her with his fame as a hero. Her outburst of wrath as she inveighs against his treachery in now bearing her as bride to _King Marke_, carries the narrative to a superb climax. _Brangäne_ seeks to comfort _Isolde_, but the latter, looking fixedly before her, confides, almost involuntarily, her love for _Tristan_.
It is clear, even from this brief description, with what constantly varying expression the narrative of Isolde is treated. Wrath, desire for vengeance, rapturous memories that cannot be dissembled, finally a confession of love to _Brangäne_--such are the emotions that surge to the surface.
They lead _Brangäne_ to exclaim: "Where lives the man who would not love you?" Then she weirdly whispers of the love-potion and takes a phial from a golden salver. The motives of the Love Glance and of the Love-Potion accompany her words and action. But _Isolde_ seizes another phial, which she holds up triumphantly. It is the death-potion. Here is heard an ominous phrase of three notes--the =Motive of Fate=.
[Music]
A forceful orchestral climax, in which the demons of despairing wrath seem unleashed, is followed by the cries of the sailors greeting the sight of the land, where she is to be married to _King Marke_. _Isolde_ hears them with growing terror. _Kurwenal_ brusquely calls to her and _Brangäne_ to prepare soon to go ashore. _Isolde_ orders _Kurwenal_ that he command _Tristan_ to come into her presence; then bids _Brangäne_ prepare the death-potion. The Death Motive accompanies her final commands to _Kurwenal_ and _Brangäne_, and the Fate Motive also drones threatfully through the weird measures. But _Brangäne_ artfully substitutes the love-potion for the death-draught.
_Kurwenal_ announces _Tristan's_ approach. _Isolde_, seeking to control her agitation, strides to the couch, and, supporting herself by it, gazes fixedly at the entrance where _Tristan_ remains standing. The motive which announces his appearance is full of tragic defiance, as if _Tristan_ felt that he stood upon the threshold of death, yet was ready to meet his fate unflinchingly. It alternates effectively with the Fate Motive, and is used most dramatically throughout the succeeding scene between _Tristan_ and _Isolde_. Sombrely impressive is the passage when he bids _Isolde_ slay him with the sword she once held over him.
If so thou didst love thy lord, Lift once again this sword, Thrust with it, nor refrain, Lest the weapon fall again.
Shouts of the sailors announce the proximity of land. In a variant of her narrative theme _Isolde_ mockingly anticipates _Tristan's_ praise of her as he leads her into _King Marke's_ presence. At the same time she hands him the goblet which contains, as she thinks, the death-potion and invites him to quaff it. Again the shouts of the sailors are heard, and _Tristan_, seizing the goblet, raises it to his lips with the ecstasy of one from whose soul a great sorrow is about to be lifted. When he has half emptied it, _Isolde_ wrests it from him and drains it.
The tremor that passes over _Isolde_ loosens her grasp upon the goblet. It falls from her hand. She faces _Tristan_.
Is the weird light in their eyes the last upflare of passion before the final darkness? What does the music answer as it enfolds them in its wondrous harmonies? The Isolde Motive;--then what? Not the glassy stare of death; the Love Glance, like a swift shaft of light penetrating the gloom. The spell is broken. _Isolde_ sinks into _Tristan's_ embrace.
Voices! They hear them not. Sailors are shouting with joy that the voyage is over. Upon the lovers all sounds are lost, save their own short, quick interchange of phrases, in which the rapture of their passion, at last uncovered, finds speech. Music surges about them. But for _Brangäne_ they would be lost. It is she who parts them, as the hangings are thrust aside.
Knights, esquires, sailors crowd the deck. From a rocky height _King Marke's_ castle looks down upon the ship, now riding at anchor in the harbour. Peace and joy everywhere save in the lovers' breasts! _Isolde_ faints in _Tristan's_ arms. Yet it is a triumphant climax of the Isolde Motive that is heard above the jubilation of the ship-folk, as the act comes to a close.