PLOT

ACT I

The love of Rivalen and Blanchefleur is rewarded with the birth of a child. Soon after, Rivalen dies in a battle. Blanchefleur tells her son: “Your name is Tristan, child of sadness”. Immediately after having said this, she dies. The dead parents become the son’s guardian angels.

Tristan is taken away by Gorvenal who raises him with a group of youths, teaching them the arts of war. One day, merchants from Norway lure Tristan onto their ship. But the sea cannot bear such indignity and casts a storm round the ship. The merchants understand that they should bring Tristan back ashore. The angels take Tristan to King Mark of Cornwall. Mark receives Tristan as a son. His sympathy for the boy stirs the jealousy of three barons. They try to drive a wedge between Mark and Tristan.

Suddenly Morholt, an Irish warrior, arrives to take Cornish youths and maidens with him as slaves to his country, unless somebody can be found to fight him. Nobody dares, not even the three barons! Nobody but Tristan. Morholt and Tristan disappear in the crowd and look! Tristan comes back as the winner. His victory is celebrated. But as Tristan is wounded, he asks for a boat to die alone on the sea.

The angels guide Tristan’s boat across the sea to Isolde. She has knowledge of medicinal herbs. While she heals him, the germ of love awakens - but they don’t give in. Tristan returns to Mark’s court. The king receives him with tender love, raising new suspicion among the barons. To make sure the childless king does not appoint Tristan as his successor, they provide the king with beautiful women. But the king shows no interest.

Tristan thinks that Isolde with her fair hair could be the queen for Mark. He crosses the sea to find her. A dragon blocks his entry to Isolde. The monster is slain by Tristan. Isolde thinks he comes to hail her as his bride. When he refuses even a gentle kiss, she is upset and disappointed. They board his ship. During the voyage they stay away from each other. The compassionate sea cannot endure their denial of love and supplies the couple with drinks: poison or the potion of love. Die or make love. Both want to die but in their confusion they drink the potion of love. As the bark approaches Mark’s land, they can no longer resist their desire and give themselves up utterly to love.

Isolde is handed over to King Mark. The king likes her. She will live as a queen, but in sadness: Tristan is always in her thoughts, just as Tristan is always thinking of Isolde. They find a place where they can indulge in passion and desire. The three barons discover Tristan’s love for the queen. The alerted King Mark arrives at the secret place to find Tristan and Isolde in a harmless position. Still the king cannot tolerate the possibility of a rival. He expels his dear friend from his kingdom. Tristan is again alone. Overcome by sadness he falls…

ACT II

…falls into the arms of the angels. Tristan cannot live without Isolde. He abducts her from Mark’s castle, to live with her in the woods. They are happy together. At the same time they feel guilty. Isolde is Mark’s wife now. Tristan has no right to sleep with her. One night, King Mark, roaming through the woods, finds them in their shelter. Deep in sleep, lying apart - Tristan’s naked blade between them. Mark draws his sword, then lowers it and lays it between the couple. He takes Tristan’s sword away with him.

Tristan and Isolde feel tenderness and pity at Mark’s gesture. Isolde should resume her duties as a queen. Tristan, disguised as a monk, brings Isolde in his arms back to Mark. She will be tried in an ordeal of fire and has to carry a glowing-red sword. If she speaks the truth, her hands will not burn. “I have never been in other arms than Mark’s arms and those of the monk who brought me”, she declares. The glowing-red sword doesn’t burn her. She has spoken the truth. Taking leave of the monk, she gives him a ring, to use when he is in pain.

Tristan, on his way through the low countries, crosses the path of Osilde. He tries to love her, another woman. But how can he forget Isolde? What can he do but reject Osilde? Osilde, humiliated and looking for revenge, finds her way to the barons. The felons of course are eager to bring her to Isolde. An exchange of hate between the women leaves a desperate Isolde. She cannot trust Tristan any more. Tristan, having heard of Osilde’s mission, is upset. He travels to Isolde and tries to convince her of his love. Now Isolde rejects him! In despair Tristan takes revenge on the barons and starts a fight in which he is the winner but alas! He is heavily wounded.

Gorvenal and his friends find a dying Tristan. Isolde is the only one who could help him. He asks Gorvenal to take the ring to her. While Isolde is on her way, Osilde tells Tristan that Isolde will never arrive in time. These words kill Tristan’s hope. He dies. Isolde arrives and finds her lover dead. Her heart stops beating. Her body falls on his body. They are forever united in the death of love, for which they have been longing all their life.

Carel Alphenaar and Krzysztof Pastor