Organization

Bayreuther Festspiele

Conductor

Giuseppe Sinopoli

Stage director

Wagner Wolfgang

Set designer

Reinhard Heinrich

Costume designer

Tenor

Richard Versalle

Tannhäuser

Reiner Goldberg

Bass

Hans Sotin

Hermann

Baritone

Wolfgang Brendel

Wolfram of Eschenbach

William Peel

Walther of the Vogelweide

Bass-baritone

Siegfried Vogel

Biterolf

Clemens Bieber

Heinrich the scribe

Sándor Sólyom-Nagy

Reinmar of Zweter

Soprano

Cheryl Studer

Elizabeth

Mezzo-soprano

Ruthild Engert

Venus

Ulrike Heyse

Third noble page

Orchestra

Bayreuther Festspielorchester

Others

Bayreuther Festspielchor

German

Tannhäuser is in the Venusberg, but longs to return to earth. With a song of praise and thanks, he tries to persuade the goddess of love to let him go. Neither love spells nor curses are able to bind him any longer. With his words "My salvation rests in Maria" the Venusberg sinks.
Spring at the foot of the Wartburg. The landgrave and his entourage find the former knight and minstrel Tannhäuser. He is greeted happily by the group. Elisabeth waited for him full of longing. In the singers' hall at the Wartburg, Elisabeth Tannhäuser confesses her great love. In front of the landgrave and many guests, the singers are supposed to fathom the nature of love in a competition. Wolfram, Walter and Biterolf are interrupted by Tannhäuser, who finally praises the goddess of love with glowing passion. One recognizes with dismay that he was in the Venusberg. Tannhauser is punished with exile and joins pilgrims heading to Rome.
In the meantime it has become autumn. In front of the picture of Mary, Elisabeth begs for Tannhäuser's salvation. The pilgrims return from their penitential journey, but without Tannhauser.
Elizabeth is near death. Deeply moved, Wolfram stays behind and finally discovers the completely contrite Tannhäuser. The Pope cursed him. He would only be granted salvation if the Pope's staff began to green again.
Tannhäuser is determined to return to Venus forever. But the name Elisabeth brings him to his senses.
A funeral procession comes from the Wartburg with the dead Elisabeth. Tannhäuser sinks down on her coffin and dies with the words "Holy Elizabeth, pray for me". Pilgrims come carrying the green staff; Redemption and grace came to Tannhäuser through the love of a woman.
"Thunderous applause, enthusiasm," wrote the FAZ; The Roman daily newspaper "La Repubblica" reported on the premiere in 1989 at the Bayreuth Festival of a "triumphant success, with veritable applause". Directed by Wolfgang Wagner, "Tannhäuser" became one of the highlights of the festival program in the 1980s. Giuseppe Sinopolis Elan gave the abstract simplicity of the staging powerful life. Wolfgang Wagner engaged some of the great Wagner singers of the time for his Tannhäuser production.

Tannhäuser Wagner,Richard

Public

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading