Pelléas et Mélisande

Act I

On his way to wed a foreign princess, Golaud Prince of Allemonde comes across a woman, Mélisande, lost in a forest. He invites her to follow him.

Golaud’s mother, Geneviève, persuades the old king of Allemonde to allow her son to return to the castle with Mélisande whom he has married. In order to better welcome them, King Arkel refuses to let Pelléas, Golaud’s half brother, go and visit a sick friend. Besides, the castle harbors a dying man, Pelléas’s father. On her arrival, Mélisande is received by Geneviève and Pelléas.

Act II

Pelléas invites Mélisande for a tour in the park. While playing in the sun by a fountain, she drops her wedding ring into the water. At the same time, Golaud falls off his horse in the forest. Later on at his bedside, Mélisande tells him that she feels oppressed in the old castle. Noticing that she has lost her ring, Golaud flies into a rage. Mélisande pretends she lost it in a cave by the sea. Golaud sends her after it with Pelléas.

Act III

One evening Pelléas comes to see Mélisande under her window. Golaud breaks in upon the scene. He leads Pelléas down to the castle vaults to frighten him and asks him to avoid Mélisande in the future. Overcome by doubt, Golaud forces his young son of a previous marriage, Yniold, to spy out Pelléas and Mélisande.

Act IV

His father having recovered, Pelléas decides not to delay his journey any longer. He arranges for a tryst with Mélisande by the fountain. King Arkel rejoices at Mélisande’s pregnancy but Golaud, enraged with jealousy, ill-treats his wife. Alone in the park, Yniold has a gloomy premonition. Pelléas and Mélisande meet for the last time and confess their love for each other. Golaud, who was spying them, kills his brother and runs after Mélisande.

Act V

The newborn is alive and Mélisande is dying. Stricken with remorse, Golaud questions her but obtains neither the truth nor forgiveness with full knowledge of the facts.