Tannhäuser (opera)
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Tannhäuser or Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf die Wartburg (Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest on the Wartburg) is an opera in three acts, music and text by Richard Wagner, based on the two Germanic legends of Tannhäuser and the song contest at Wartburg. Key themes are the struggle between sacred and profane love, and redemption through love (a theme running through almost all Wagner's mature work).
Wagner conducted the premier in Dresden in 1845, with his niece Johanna Wagner singing the part of Elisabeth. The revised "Paris version" of the opera is the more frequently performed today.
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[edit] The Paris Version
Wagner revised the opera for a special 1861 performance in Paris sponsored by Pauline de Metternich, the princess of Austria. This revised version of the work is now known as the "Paris version" of Tannhäuser.
- A few further changes were made for an 1875 performance of the opera in Vienna; these are also considered part of the "Paris version", although they were not introduced until some fourteen years after this original revision.
[edit] Changes from the original Dresden Version
Wagner's omission of the ballet during Act II was considered cause for scandal in the Paris Opera House, a primary reason why a separate Paris Version was created.
- During that time, the French considered ballet mandatory in opera.
- In the Richard Burton film about Richard Wagner there is a scene showing the Paris Opera House riot that took place due to the lack of a ballet in the 2nd act.
Major Paris Version changes include:
- The text was translated to French. Most performances today retain the German libretto.
- The opening scene was doubled in length, in part by significantly expanding the opening ballet.
- A solo for Walther was removed from Act 2.
- The orchestral introduction to Act 3 was shortened.
- The end of the opera was remodelled to include Venus on stage, where before the audience only heard the Venus motif. Wagner thought that prior to the change, audiences were confused about what was happening onstage.
[edit] Roles
| Premiere October 20th, 1842 (Wagner conducting) |
Paris, 1861 (Pierre-Louis Dietsch) |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Tannhäuser, a minnesinger | tenor | Joseph Tichatschek | Albert Niemann |
| Elisabeth, the Landgrave's niece | soprano | Johanna Wagner (Wagner's niece) | Marie Sass |
| Venus | soprano | Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient (Wagner's ideal "woman of the future") | Fortunata Tedesco |
| Wolfram, a minnesinger | baritone | Anton Mitterwurzer | Morelli |
| Herrmann, Landgrave of Thuringia | bass | Georg Wilhelm Dettmer | Cazaux |
| Walther von der Vogelweide, a minnesinger | tenor | Max Schloss | Aimes |
| Biterolf, a minnesinger | bass | Johann Michael Wächter | Coulon |
| Heinrich der Schreiber, a minnesinger | tenor | Anton Curty | König |
| Reinmar von Zweter, a minnesinger | bass | Karl Risse | Freret |
| A Young Shepherd | soprano | Anna Thiele | Reboux |
| Four Noble Pages | soprano, alto | ||
| Nobles, knights, ladies, pilgrims, sirens, naiads, nymphs, bacchants; in Paris version, also the Three Graces, youths, cupids, satyrs, and fauns |
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[edit] Plot
The opera takes place near Eisenach in the early thirteenth century.
[edit] Act I
The Venusberg (the Hörselberg of "Frau Holda" in Thüringia, in the vicinity of Eisenach.) Tannhäuser is held there a willing captive through his love for Venus. (Ballet scene; bacchanalian music.) Following the orgy of the ballet, Tannhäuser's desires are finally satiated, and he longs for freedom, spring and the sound of church bells. Once again he takes up his harp and pays homage to the goddess in a passionate love song, which he ends with an earnest plea to be allowed to depart. When Venus again tries to charm him he declares: "My salvation rests in Mary, the mother of God." These words break the unholy spell. Venus and her attendants disappear, and he suddenly finds himself just below the Wartburg. It is springtime; a young shepherd sits upon a rock and pipes an ode to spring; pilgrims in procession pass Tannhäuser as he stands motionless, and he sinks to his knees, overcome with gratitude. He is discovered by the landgrave and his companions, Wolfram, Walter, Biterolf, Reimar, and Heinrich. They joyfully welcome the young singer, who had originally fled from the court because he was shamefully bested in the prize-singing contest. He initially refuses to join them, but when Wolfram informs him that his song has gained for him the heart of Elizabeth, he relents and follows the landgrave and the singers to the Wartburg.
[edit] Act II
Hall of the Wartburg. Elizabeth has been living retired from the world since Tannhäuser's disappearance. When she hears of his return she joyfully agrees to be present at a prize contest of song, and enters the hall. Wolfram leads Tannhäuser to her; he loves her, but dares not tell her the evil he has done. The landgrave and Elizabeth receive the guests who assemble for the contest, the noblemen of the neighbourhood, who appear in rich attire. (March and chorus.) The landgrave announces the subject of the contestants' songs is to be "love's awakening". Elizabeth will grant the victor one wish, whatever it may be. Wolfram performs first; he declares that love is like a pure stream, which should never be troubled. Tannhäuser replies hotly that he finds the highest love only in the pleasure of the senses. The other singers uphold Wolfram. Tannhäuser replies to each separately, and at last in growing excitement he answers Wolfram with a love song to Venus, and declares that if the knights wish to know love as it is they should repair to the Venusberg. The women, with the exception of Elizabeth, leave the hall in horror, and the knights draw swords upon Tannhäuser. Elizabeth protects him, and since he expresses his penitence, the landgrave allows him to join a band of pilgrims bound for Rome, where he may perhaps obtain forgiveness from the pope.
[edit] Act III
The valley of the Wartburg. An autumn scene. Orchestral music describes the pilgrimage of Tannhäuser. Elizabeth, accompanied by Wolfram, falls on her knees in prayer. She asks the returning pilgrims for news of Tannhäuser, but in vain. Once again she prays earnestly and returns broken-hearted to the Wartburg. Wolfram, who loves her with faithful devotion, has a presentiment of her death. (Wolfram: "Song to the evening star.") He sees before him a tottering pilgrim in torn garments. It is Tannhäuser, who informs Wolfram that the pope refused his plea for absolution, and declared that he had no more chance of being forgiven than his staff had of sprouting leaves. Utterly despairing, Tannhäuser is now seeking the way back to the Venusburg and presently calls to Venus, who appears before him and bids him welcome back to her cavern. Suddenly, Wolfram notices a funeral procession descending the hill, and sees the mourners bearing the corpse of Elizabeth on a bier. Tannhäuser races to her side and collapses upon her body with the words, "Holy Elizabeth, pray for me" upon his lips. The younger pilgrims enter and announce that the staff of Tannhäuser, which the pope had ordered to be erected as a token of his damnation, had just sprouted young leaves, a sign that he has obtained God's forgiveness.
[edit] Recordings
There are many recordings of Tannhäuser, some of the most popular being listed below:
- Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting at Bayreuth. Windgassen, Silja, Waechter, Bumbry. Live, 1962 (Philips).
- Georg Solti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Kollo, Dernesch, Braun, Ludwig. 1970 (Decca).
- Giuseppe Sinopoli conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. 1989 (Deutsche Grammophon).
- Daniel Barenboim conducting the Staatskapelle Berlin. 2002 (Teldec). This is the Dresden version of the opera, but Act 1, Scene 2 is based on the Paris version. It won a Grammy in 2003 for Best Opera Recording.
[edit] References
- Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser. A gallery of historic postcards with motives from Richard Wagner's operas.
- Plot taken from The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version.
- The New Kobbes Opera Book (11th edition), 1997.
- Murakami, Haruki. "The Second Bakery Attack." The Elephany Vanishes and Other Stories. New York: Vintage Books, 1993.
