Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg Castle backdrop

Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg Castle 1978 Directed by Thomas Olofsson Tannhäuser

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.

Country USA
Production Country Germany
Language English
Spoken Language German
Gneres Drama , Music
Production Company Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date 10 July 1978
209 mins
Cast
Gwyneth Jones Elisabeth / Venus
Spas Wenkoff Tannhäuser
Bernd Weikl Wolfram von Eschenbach
Hans Sotin Landgraf
Robert Schunk Walther von der Vogelweide
Franz Mazura Biterolf
John Pickering Heinrich der Schreiber
Heinz Feldhoff Reinmar von Zweter
Klaus Brettschneider Ein junger Hirt
Irene Hammann Edelknaben
Colin Davis Self - Conductor
Crew
Director
Writer
Composer
Production Design
Music