What inspired Wagner to write the opera "Tristan and Isolde?
by 
Marguerite
ANSWERS: 3
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Wagner's composition of Tristan und Isolde was inspired by his affair with Mathilde Wesendonck and the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer.
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Upon the ancient legend which has thus been out-lined Wagner reared his great tragedy entitled "Tristan und Isolde." Whence the story came nobody can tell. It is a part of the great treasure preserved from remotest antiquity by itinerant singers and story-tellers, and committed to writing by poets of the Middle Ages. The first of these, so far as unquestioned evidence goes, were French trouvères. From them the tale passed into the hands of the German minnesinger. The greatest of these who treated it was Gottfried von Strasburg (circa A.D. 1210), who, however, left the tale unfinished. His continuators were Ulrich von Türnheim and Heinrich von Freiberg, whose denouement (not, however, original with them) was followed by Hermann Kurtz when he published a version of Gottfried's poem in modern German in 1844. This, unquestionably, was the version which fell into Wagner's hands when, in the Dresden period (1843–1849) he devoted himself assiduously to the study of Teutonic legend and mythology. Wagner: Tristan und Isolde - Prelude
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Hi Carpediem, here is my comment for your most interesting answer! I'm glad you traced the history of the legend from the French trouveres and German minnesingers and on to the German writers and finally Wagner. The prelude you sent is a beautiful emotional piece. This music possesses much tension as it builds and builds and builds, getting higher and higher, and louder and louder! Then it settles to soft, quiet, and very melodic parts with more harmonic and gentle chords. One can almost touch this composer's heart! There aren't that many pieces of music that affect me this way, but this one does! Thanks for all your work! It is much appreciated!
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