BigList
Login / Sign up
Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg Castle (1978)

Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg Castle (1978)

Drama Music
Release Date: 1978, July 10
Directors: Thomas Olofsson
Countries: Germany
Production: Deutsche Grammophon, Deutsche Grammophon
Cast: Colin Davis, Gwyneth Jones, Franz Mazura, Hans Sotin, Bernd Weikl, Robert Schunk, Klaus Brettschneider, Spas Wenkoff, Heinz Feldhoff, Irene Hammann, Angelika Jung-Nowski, Roswitha Korff-Krüger

Overview:

TANNHÄUSER UND DER SÄNGERKRIEG AUF WARTBURG is a grand opera by Richard Wagner in three acts. After experiencing boundless sensuality and freedom with the fun-loving Venus (soprano), the singer Tannhäuser (Tenor) finds it impossible to conform to the cultured setting of his betrothed Elizabeth (soprano), who loves him. During a singing contest, Tannhäuser describes the affair with Venus as the ultimate love experience and because of that, he is cast out from the established society. Thanks to Elizabeth's intervention, he is allowed to undertake a pilgrimage to the Pope to ask for the Holy Father's pardon. If the Pope accepts to forgive him, he would be allowed to take back his place in society. Tannhäuser accepts. But fate will not allow him to meet with his beloved Elizabeth again in this life. This is a recording of the legendary staging by Götz Friedrich for the 1978 Bayreuth Festival conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

Keywords:

magic tragic love legend pope opera pilgrimage venus the goddess