Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' Told in 3 Minutes

WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon breaks down Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" in three minutes flat.

[communicatingdoors]

I've just been to the Zürich opera house twice to see this opera. When I left my seat, I wasn't exhausted but elated. The music is DIVINE. Thank you for presenting the plot in such an entertaining way. Wagner, despite the serious shortcomings of his character, was a GENIOUS.

[jerseygirl]

It's a story from King Arthur and the knights of the round table. This is the actual legend:

Isolde (Iseult the Fair, in Irish), like many Celtic woman in myth, has magical healing powers. Tristan is sent by his uncle Mark to fetch Mark's bride-to-be, Iseult the Fair, from Ireland. Iseult's mother has send with her a love potion to ensure that her new husband will truly love her, but Tristan and Iseult the Fair drink it by accident. They are now madly in love but too honorable to betray his uncle. They pledge undying (but unconsummated) love to each other and he brings her to his uncle.

Tristan leaves and travels the world having knightly adventures and trying to forget her. (He can't, although he ends up marrying Iseult of the White Hands anyway.) He is wounded in battle and sends messengers by ship to ask Iseult the Fair to come and heal him. He tells the messengers that if they return with her they should put up white sails, but to put up black sails if she has refused to come. They sail back with her and put up white sails, but Iseult of the White Hands, in a fit of jealousy, tells Tristan (lying in bed) that the sails are black. He dies of despair. Iseult the Fair shows up, finds Tristan dead and dies of grief. Iseult of the White Hands feels bad and allows them to be buried together (at last).

[rnhtube]

You could listen to this synopsis of this opera three times and it still would not even be as long as the overture to this opera.

[batoolyousaf]

It's my 1st time here. I love this! This was a very nice explanation along with the clearest voice and the best of a character.

[aliegan]

Ironically if Tristan just explained it to King Marke then he probably would have saved everyone a lot of time.

[joycedelrosario]

Please do 3 minute plot summary for Wagner's the Ring Cycle.

[logangomez]

Just heard about this story in studying social psychology.

[lad]

I may be wrong but Im almost certain the Liebestod is the final song on the opera also known ad Mild und Leise. The lovers meet their desire for eternal union in death. Act II has them sing of love but its called Nachtgesang and its less about death than it is about romance and ecstasy

[javierjacoborubio]

Hahaha, this is Wagner, and if Tristan could explain...

[mikeyn]

What? You want to deny me the experience of staggering out of the theater after sitting four hours?😂😂

[johndaily]

"Tristan was badly wounded, and he went into Ireland to find a magic healer...you know, like Dr. Oz." 😂

[robsryan]

This is great, thank you! However I'm still really confused about the whole damn thing. The music is tremendous, so that's what I'll do, I'll enjoy that. Pressing play ...

[kittyprydex]

Welp.
I found the channel that's gonna take up the majority of my free time this month.
*dives in *

[kayaegan]

bro why is it so funny? i fucking love it

[rdred]

The stabbing is a nice pick me up, LOL

[underfall]

appreciate it, now i dont have to spend an hour trying to read it

[illyaismaili]

What's with Wagner haters here in the comment section??

[katiedeluise]

Hahaha . Better short and sweet then long and boring .

[Kahani]

You made it sound like chocolate cake.

[ichangeling]

Ahhhh, tragic love... is there anything better? 😍...Well maybe happily ever after love is better... but tragedy is more dramatic 🧐🤓❤️