Richard Wagner -- Tristan und Isolde (Prelude and Liebestod) -- Score

It starts with a single chord. Not just any chord, but one that, ever since it was first played, has defied classification and description, to the point that it is an entirely unique progression, simply "the Tristan Chord". The opera continues as a massive act in harmonic suspension and chromatic writing. While the Ring Cycle usually considered Wagner's greatest work, if for nothing more than the sheer scale of it, Tristan und Isolde is likely his most innovative.

The ancient story of forbidden love between Isolde, who had been pledged to Marke of Cornwall, and Tristan, who had been commanded by Marke to bring his bride-to-be, likely resonated with Wagner, considering his own extramarital affairs with Mathilde Wesendonck and Cosima von Bulow. The duality between the courtly and the sensual, between duty and desire, was also reflected by Wagner's interest in the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, the gulf between wants and fulfillment, and the ultimate tragedy brought by uninhibited desire.

Musically, the opera was unlike anything before it, and so opinion at the time was sharply divided, either a work of genius, or work of madness. Subsequent composers either embraced Wagner's new musical ideas or actively rebelled against them. The opera took six years to finally get to the stage, mainly through the encouragement of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Even then it was considered almost impossible to perform, requiring too much endurance from its principles, an opinion only reinforced after the first Tristan, Ludwig Schnorr von Karlsfeld, suddenly died after performing the role only four times. It still has a daunting reputation among both musicians and audiences, but is certainly worth the effort.


Score sourced through the International Music Score Library Project / Petrucci Music Library:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:Imagef...

Music source:
   • Wagner: Tristan and Isolde – Prelude and L...  


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