Dr. Stephanie Cain Van D’Elden has studied political science, German Literature, and has a PhD. in Germanic Philology (Medieval German). She has taught and been an Administrator at a number of Universities in the US and abroad. Her lecture is based on her forthcoming book, Tristan and Isolde: Medieval Illustrations of the Verse Romances to be published by Brepols. She has traveled widely, attending opera performances in many different countries, and, of course, is a devotee of the Minnesota Opera and the HD Met performances. Last summer she spent a week at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth where she saw seven performances including Tristan.
The story of Tristan still fascinates us after hundreds of years. It was known throughout Europe by 1140 and transcribed around 1190. Richard Wagner was familiar with both verse and prose versions in several languages. It is a love story of the faithful love of Tristan and Isolde. It is also the story of how they plotted, intrigued and deceived King Mark and others, how they committed not only adultery but also treason. We may wonder whether the story was meant to be an exemplum of the wonders of courtly love and behavior or was it supposed to serve as a bad example of the results of adulterous love? The story is based on verse versions using illustrations from many different medieval media such as wall paintings, wall hangings, bed coverings, tablecloths, floor tiles, marriage caskets, mirrors, purses, shoes, combs, misericords, and manuscripts.
Sunday, June 5th at 2pm
Hosted by our Program Director, Renate Sharp
We hope you will join us!
