Composer

:

Richard Wagner

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1843 - 1865

Average_duration

:

146:38

Movement_count

:

29

Movement ....

"Tannhäuser" is an opera in three acts composed by Richard Wagner. The opera was first composed in 1845 and revised in 1861. It premiered on October 19, 1845, at the Royal Court Theatre in Dresden, Germany. The opera is based on the German legend of Tannhäuser, a knight and poet who is torn between his love for the goddess Venus and his desire for redemption and salvation. The first act of the opera takes place in the Venusberg, the underground realm of Venus. Tannhäuser has been living there for several years, enjoying the pleasures of the goddess's court. However, he begins to feel a sense of emptiness and longs to return to the world above. Venus tries to convince him to stay, but he resists and eventually escapes. In the second act, Tannhäuser returns to the world above and seeks redemption for his sins. He joins a group of pilgrims on their way to Rome and hopes to receive absolution from the Pope. However, when he arrives in Rome, he is told that his sins are too great to be forgiven. He becomes despondent and returns to the Venusberg. The third act takes place in the Wartburg Castle, where a singing contest is being held. Tannhäuser arrives and sings a song praising Venus and the pleasures of the Venusberg. The knights and ladies of the court are outraged and demand that he retract his words. Tannhäuser refuses and is about to be killed when the saintly Elisabeth intervenes and begs for his life. Tannhäuser realizes the depth of her love for him and dies in her arms. "Tannhäuser" is known for its lush and romantic music, which includes the famous "Pilgrims' Chorus" and the "Bacchanal" from the Venusberg scene. The opera also explores themes of redemption, love, and the conflict between earthly and spiritual desires. The revised version of the opera, which premiered in 1861, is considered to be one of Wagner's greatest works and is still performed today.

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