大象传媒

ACT I

Wartburg castle and environs, medieval Germany. The minnesinger Tannh盲user, having spent a year in the magical underground realm of Venus, the goddess of love, longs to return to the human world. He pays tribute to Venus in a song but ends by asking her to let him go. Surprised, Venus promises him even greater pleasures, but when he insists and repeats his pleas, she furiously dismisses him and curses his desire for salvation. Tannh盲user cries out that his hope rests with the Virgin Mary鈥攁nd suddenly finds himself transported to a valley near the castle of the Wartburg.

A procession of pilgrims passes on the way to Rome. Tannh盲user is deeply moved and praises the wonders of God, as horns announce the arrival of a hunting party. It is Landgrave Hermann with his knights. Recognizing Tannh盲user as their long-lost friend, they beg him to return to the castle with them, but Tannh盲user is reluctant. Wolfram, one of the knights, reminds him that his singing once won him the love of Elisabeth, the Landgrave鈥檚 niece. On hearing her name, Tannh盲user understands what he must do and joins his companions.

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ACT II

Elisabeth joyfully greets the Wartburg鈥檚 Hall of Song, which she hasn鈥檛 set foot in since Tannh盲user left. He is now led in by Wolfram. Elisabeth, at first shy and confused, tells Tannh盲user how she has suffered in his absence, but then joins him in praise of love. Observing their emotional reunion, Wolfram realizes that his own affection for Elisabeth is hopeless.

Landgrave Hermann is delighted to find his niece in the Hall of Song, and together they welcome their guests who have come for a song contest. The Landgrave declares love the subject of the competition and promises the victor to receive whatever he asks from the hand of Elisabeth. Wolfram opens the contest with a heartfelt tribute to idealized love. Tannh盲user, his thoughts still on Venus, replies with a hymn to worldly pleasures. Other singers counter his increasingly passionate declarations until Tannh盲user breaks out into his prize song to Venus, to the horror of the guests. As the men draw their swords, Elisabeth throws herself between the parties to protect Tannh盲user and begs the knights for mercy. The Landgrave pronounces his judgment: Tannh盲user will be forgiven if he joins the pilgrims on their way to Rome to do penance. Tannh盲user falls at Elisabeth鈥檚 feet and rushes from the hall.

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ACT III

Several months later, Wolfram comes across Elisabeth praying at a shrine in the valley. A band of pilgrims, back from Rome, passes by, but Tannh盲user is not among them. Broken with grief, Elisabeth prays to the Virgin Mary to receive her soul into heaven. Wolfram gazes after her and asks the evening star to guide her way. Night falls, and a solitary pilgrim approaches. It is Tannh盲user, ragged and weary. He tells Wolfram of his devout penitence on the way to Rome鈥攐f his joy at seeing so many others pardoned, and of his despair when the Pope proclaimed that he could no more be forgiven for his sins than the papal staff bear green leaves again. Left without hope, all he wants now is to return to Venus. He summons her and she appears, just as Wolfram once again brings Tannh盲user to his senses by invoking Elisabeth鈥檚 name. At this moment, Elisabeth鈥檚 funeral procession comes winding down the valley. With a cry, Venus disappears. Tannh盲user implores Elisabeth to pray for him in heaven and collapses dead. As dawn breaks, another group of pilgrims arrives, telling of a miracle: the Pope鈥檚 staff, which they bear with them, has blossomed.

- With thanks to the Metropolitan Opera, New York