29 June 2019 (Sat), 15:00 World famous Mariinsky Ballet and Opera Theatre - Opera and Concert Hall - Stars of the Stars Conducted by Maestro Gergiev. Stars of the Stars ! PREMIERE ! Opera Richard Wagner "Tannhauser" Opera
Running time: 4 hours 10 minutes (till 19:10)
The performance has 2 intermissions
Schedule for Richard Wagner "Tannhauser" Opera 2022
Conductor: Maestro Valery Gergiev Bass-baritone: Yevgeny Nikitin Soprano: Tatiana Pavlovskaya Tenor: Avgust Amonov Tenor: Oleg Balashov Soprano: Mlada Khudoley Soprano: Yekaterina Shimanovich Soprano: Anna Markarova Tenor: Sergei Skorokhodov Baritone: Roman Burdenko Tenor: Stanislav Leontiev Bass: Ilya Bannik Bass: Pavel Shmulevich Mezzo soprano: Yulia Matochkina Soprano: Irina Churilova Bass: Dmitry Grigoriev Tenor: Mikhail Vekua Baritone: Vladislav Kupriyanov
Composer: Richard Wagner Principal Chorus Master: Andrei Petrenko Musical Director: Maestro Valery Gergiev Musical Preparation: Marina Mishuk Set Designer: Pyotr Okunev Lighting Designer: Sergei Skornetsky Stage Director: Vyacheslav Starodubtsev
Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra Opera company: Mariinsky (Kirov) Opera
Opera in 3 acts
Performed in German with synchronised Russian and English supertitles
Tannhäuser is an 1845 opera in three acts, music and text by Richard Wagner, based on two German legends: Tannhäuser, the legendary medieval German Minnesänger and poet, and the tale of the Wartburg Song Contest. The story centers on the struggle between sacred and profane love, and redemption through love, a theme running through much of Wagner's mature work.
Wagner made a number of revisions of the opera throughout his life and was still unsatisfied with its format when he died. The most significant revision was made for the opera's premiere in Paris in 1861; the production there was however a failure, partly for political reasons.
The opera remains a staple of major opera house repertoire in the 21st century.
World premiere: 19 October 1845, Königlich Sächsisches Hoftheater (Semperoper), Dresden Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 13 December 1874, Imperial Russian Opera Company (performed in Russian, translated by Konstantin Zvantsov) Premiere of this production: 17 June 2021, Mariinsky II
Age category 12+
Synopsis Inside the Hörselberg, where Venus' kingdom is to be found. Tannhäuser the knight and singer once found his way inside and became the beloved of the goddess of love herself. His life was filled with enjoyment. Having had his fill of all that, the knight has resolved to leave Venus and return to people. He is stifled in the rosy intoxication of Venus' kingdom, and once again he wishes to breathe fresh forest air and hear birds singing and bells ringing. In vain, the insulted goddess tries to restrain Tannhäuser: neither tenderness nor prayers nor curses can stop him. With the name of the Virgin Mary on his lips, the minnesinger leaves Venus' mansion and finds himself in the flowering valley near Wartburg Castle. With fondness he hears the song of a shepherd. A procession of pilgrims passes by, heading for Rome. In the distance the sounds of hunters' horns can be made out. The landgrave of Thuringia appears in the accompaniment of knights. There was a time when the haughty Tannhäuser left them. Now one of the knights, Tannhäuser's old friend Wolfram von Eschenbach, asks him to return to Wartburg and participate in a singing contest. Tannhäuser initially refuses, but on discovering that the landgrave's niece Elisabeth misses him he joins the knights.
In Wartburg, in the hall where the minnesinger knights are to compete in their art, Elisabeth's joyous call greets Tannhäuser. He arrives, accompanied by Wolfram. Elisabeth tells Tannhäuser about a new and unknown feeling that has come over her. The minnesinger rejoices: it is love! In delight, the lovers sing a hymn to the loftiest feeling of love. Wolfram is saddened, as his hopes for Elisabeth's heart have been shot down. The landgrave opens the competition and declares the theme of the contest: it is the essence of love. Wolfram sings the praises of pure loe, comparing it to a stream. Tannhäuser, who has only just returned from Venus' grotto, protests against his friend. The other knights – Walther von der Vogelweide and Biterolf – side with Wolfram. Incensed, Tannhäuser declares for all to hear that he has lived in Venus' grotto, and he sings of heartfelt love. All are perturbed. The women leave the hall and the knights seize their arms. Elisabeth saves the minnesinger from death; she forbids the knights to administer any punishment. The landgrave orders Tannhäuser to join the pilgrims and depart to see the Pope in order for his sins to be forgiven.
In the valley below Wartburg Elisabeth awaits his return. Wolfram looks at her in compassion. At last the pilgrims who have been in Rome appear, but Tannhäuser is not among them. Elisabeth calls out to the Virgin Mary for percy. She is prepared to die in order to save her beloved. Left alone, Wolfram greets the evening star. Tannhäuser appears. He is in despair: the Pope cursed the sinner, saying that his salvation is just as impossible as it is impossible for the Pope's crozier to be covered in green shoots. Spurned by everyone, the minnesinger hopes to find Venus once again, but the godess of love's charms no longer hold any power over him: Elisabeth's angelic soul has prayed for and been granted forgiveness for her beloved. By Elisabeth's grave, Tannhäuser dies. The pilgrims tell of a miracle that occurred in Rome: the Pope's crozier has blossomed.
Schedule for Richard Wagner "Tannhauser" Opera 2022
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