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Tannhäuser (Theatre)

 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
type
TVTItem
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
label
Tannhäuser (Theatre)
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
page
Tannhaeuser
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
comment
Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg (or, in English, "Tannhäuser and the Song-Contest at the Wartburg Castle"), more commonly known as Tannhäuser, is a "romantic opera in three acts" by Richard Wagner. The opera first premiered in Dresden in 1845, but a revised and extended version (translated into French!) was prepared by the composer for the Paris Opéra in 1861, and it is this later version that is more commonly performed today (in a suitably Teutonic retranslation by the composer).Wagner based the plot of his opera on a conflation of two originally unconnected legends. The first tells of a minnesinger (or "minstrel of love") and knight, called the Tannhäuser (literally, "man from the fir-tree-home"), who descended into a subterranean kingdom under a mountain (the so-called "Mountain of Venus" or Venusberg, identified by Wagner with the real Hörselberg◊ near the town of Eisenach) and won the favors of the goddess of love (called alternately Venus or Holda, her Latin or German names, by Wagner); after a period of some years, the knight repented and fled the Venusberg to seek penance from Pope Urban IV; the pope rejects his penitence, telling him that sooner will his staff grow new leaves than forgiveness be possible for such as he, and Tannhäuser, despairing, returns to Venus — three days later the staff does indeed burst into leaf, but the pope's messengers cannot find the knight. The second tells of the "War of Song" conducted by the legendary minnesinger Heinrich von Ofterdingen (and his sorcerous companion Clinschor (=Klingsor (!)) of Hungary) against the most famous minstrels of mediæval Germany at the court of Landgraf (or "territorial count") Hermann von Thüringen; in the course of which Clinschor prophecies the birth of Elizabeth of Hungary, later to be the wife of the Landgrave's son and a canonized saint. Wagner radically reshaped these legends, identifying the historical (though pseudonymous) Tannhäuser with the (probably) mythical Ofterdingen, and transporting the former from his own time (fl. c. 1250 A.D.) to that of Landgrave Hermann I of Thuringia, some 50 years before, and transforming the Landgrave's daughter-in-law into his niece and Tannhäuser's true love.For a summary of the plot, see our synopsis page.Wagner's opera drew from many sources: a popular ballad reprinted in the famous folk-song collection, Des Knaben Wunderhorn; Heinrich Heine's poem „Der Tannhäuser: Eine Legende"; E. T. A. Hoffmann's "Der Kampf der Sänger" (included in his Die Serapions-Brüder); and possibly from Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz, an opera which Wagner greatly admired and with which Tannhäuser shows some structural similarities (Weber himself had considered writing a Venusberg opera). It proved highly popular in Germany, but the première of the revised version at the Paris Opéra was a notorious failure — though more for political and personal reasons than artistic ones. (The gentlemen of the royalist Jockey Club resented both Wagner's patron, the Bonapartist Princess Metternich, and his refusal to put the then-obligatory ballet sequence in the second rather than the first act of the opera, requiring the prime donne of the Opéra to forgo either the ballet or their suppers — with the gentlemen of the royalist Jockey Club. At the first three performances they interrupted the opera with cabman's whistles, and the disgruntled Wagner withdrew the work. (To the anti-Semitic composer's even greater disgust, the settings and costumes were immediately re-used for a new production of Meyerbeer's ever-popular Robert le Diable.)) However, the new version quickly established itself, and the opera, in both versions, has proven to be one of the composer's most popular works, both in the opera-house and in the concert-hall.Blade Runner's Tannhäuser Gate is probably inspired by this Tannhäuser.
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2023-11-14T21:16:09Z
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2023-11-14T21:16:09Z
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DBTropes
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_10e7d43c
type
Fanfare
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_10e7d43c
comment
Fanfare: Several of Wagner's Leitmotifs (e.g., the "Rome" motif) have the character of fanfares; a more conventional example introduces the Festival March. At Bayreuth, certain motifs are played as fanfares from the balcony of the Festspielhaus to announce the beginning of an act.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_10e7d43c
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_1282bf4f
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No Celebrities Were Harmed
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_1282bf4f
comment
No Celebrities Were Harmed: Elisabeth, though not herself historical, is clearly based on the historical Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207 - 1231, canonized 1235), who was the wife of the Hermann I's son, Blessed Louis (Ludwig) of Thuringia (1201 - 1228).
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_1282bf4f
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_16364a29
type
Evil Sounds Deep
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_16364a29
comment
Evil Sounds Deep: Averted. All the basses and baritones are on the side of Good (though Biterolf is a bit of a Jerkass). The annoying Heinrich himself is a tenor. On the other hand, the most "evil" female in the show, the possessive, vampish Venus, is also the lowest-voiced female in the show.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_16364a29
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_17ce80aa
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All There in the Manual
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_17ce80aa
comment
All There in the Manual: The Venusberg is identified as the Hörselberg, the "Hall of Art" as being in the Wartburg, and Heinrich as Tannhäuser only in the title and the stage directions.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_17ce80aa
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_259d5879
type
Anachronism Stew
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_259d5879
comment
Anachronism Stew: In the original legend, Tannhäuser seeks forgiveness from Pope Urban IV, who reigned from 1261-1264; in the opera, Landgraf Hermann, who had died in 1217, is alive to witness Tannhäuser's return from Rome.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_259d5879
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_4023b8c8
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First-Name Basis
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_4023b8c8
comment
First-Name Basis: The name "Tannhäuser" is not spoken by any character in the opera. (Nor is "Ofterdingen," for that matter.)
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_4023b8c8
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_4ef92d0b
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The Atoner
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_4ef92d0b
comment
The Atoner: Heinrich after he is sent to Rome. On his return, he describes how how instead of following the pilgrims on the road, he walked through rocks and thorns; instead of resting with them in the hospice, he slept outside in the snownote the journey from Thuringia to Rome requires crossing the Alps; when travelling through the beautiful meadows of Italy he kept his eyes to the ground in front of him. His failure to receive absolution has left him a broken man.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_4ef92d0b
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_552c0a69
type
Pop-Cultural Osmosis
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_552c0a69
comment
Popcultural Osmosis: How many people know the "Pilgrims' Chorus as "Wetuwn, my Wuv! A wonging buwns deep inside me!"?
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_552c0a69
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_552c0a69
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_60547993
type
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_60547993
comment
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Wolfram has intense feelings for Elizabeth, but recognizes that she is in love with Heinrich, and only prays for her happiness.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_60547993
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_6a696742
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The Power of Love
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_6a696742
comment
The Power of Love: Inspires Elisabeth to try to save Heinrich, and Heinrich to try to be saved, for Elisabeth's sake
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_6a696742
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1
type
Tenor Boy
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1
comment
Tenor Boy: Subverted, perhaps, in that the more sensual Heinrich is a tenor, the more innocent Wolfram a baritone.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_90b66e22
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Femme Fatale
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_90b66e22
comment
Femme Fatale: Venus
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_90b66e22
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_90b66e22
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_941896b
type
Shaming the Mob
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_941896b
comment
Shaming the Mob: The knights are shocked and enraged by Heinrich's lascivious song and have already drawn steel on him, when Elisabeth convinces them to banish him instead. He's given the option of joining a pilgrimage to Rome and seeking absolution and forgiveness, and only then is he allowed to return.
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 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab
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Betty and Veronica
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab
comment
Betty and Veronica: Heinrich has the saintly Elisabeth as Betty and the sensual Venus as Veronica.
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 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
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Cross-Cast Role
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
comment
Crosscast Role: The "young shepherd" in Act I is sometimes played by a boy treble, and sometimes by a female soprano, but in either case is generally costumed like a boy. Same with the "Four Pages" right before the Song Contest.
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 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f62723d
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Get Out!
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f62723d
comment
Get Out!: Biterolf's reaction to Heinrich's entry in the song contest.
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f62723d
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f62723d
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f6fb586
type
Leitmotif
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f6fb586
comment
Leitmotif: Though not as carefully worked out as in his later operas, Wagner already employs themes and motifs to characterize ideas such as Venus and Rome.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_9f6fb586
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b3247afd
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Common Time
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b3247afd
comment
Common Time: The Entrance of the Guests
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b3247afd
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b5049d76
type
Added Alliterative Appeal
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b5049d76
comment
Added Alliterative Appeal: As in these lines: „Wenn wir den grimmen Welfen widerstanden,/Und den verderbenvollen Zwiespalt wehrten...‟English "If we withstood the grim Guelphs, and warded off disastrous division...
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b5049d76
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b58898a1
type
Opening Ballet
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b58898a1
comment
Opening Ballet: When Wagner was revising Tannhäuser in preparation for the 1861 Paris production, he had to accommodate the Opéra's demands that every opera should have a ballet, preferably in the middle of the evening. Wagner objected to placing the ballet in the second act, instead providing a ballet at the very beginning — thus provoking noisy demonstrations by the gentlemen of the royalist Jockey Club.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_b58898a1
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bcba27a1
type
Putting on the Reich
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bcba27a1
comment
Putting on the Reich: In Götz Friedrich's notorious 1972 production at Bayreuth, Landgraf Hermann and his nobles were costumed similarly to Nazi storm troopers.
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bcba27a1
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bcba27a1
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bd86c157
type
The High Middle Ages
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bd86c157
comment
The High Middle Ages: Around the turn of the 12th/13th centuries, though some producers like to costume it in the style of the Manesse Codex from the first half of the 14th. (This MS. gives us the famous representation◊ of the original Tannhäuser wearing the habit of The Teutonic Knights.)
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bd86c157
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_bd86c157
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_c51d3bd3
type
Nice Guys Finish Last
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_c51d3bd3
comment
Nice Guys Finish Last: Elisabeth pines for, chases, pleads for, prays for, and ultimately dies for the arrogant, blasphemous Heinrich. The kindly, chivalrous Wolfram (who is all-too-obviously pining away for her) never gets a second look.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_c51d3bd3
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
type
All Girls Want Bad Boys
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
comment
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Elisabeth ignores the virtuous, chivalrous Wolfram while pining away for the arrogant Heinrich, who has forsaken the Minnesingers and is living with a pagan goddess. When he admits his evil and is sent away on pilgrimage, she prays for him and ignores Wolfram some more. And when Heinrich comes back having failed to get absolution for his sins, she dies for him.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db361e64
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Princess Classic
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db361e64
comment
Princess Classic: Elisabeth
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db361e64
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_db361e64
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_de62097f
type
Beyond Redemption
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_de62097f
comment
Beyond Redemption: On hearing of Heinrich's transgressions, the Pope tells him that "just like this dead staff in my hand will never put out fresh leaves", Heinrich will never receive God's mercy. God disagrees.
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_de62097f
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_e5e6640b
type
Flanderization
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_e5e6640b
comment
Flanderization: Happens to, of all things, the Pope's staff. In the original and Wagner's version, the staff is to send forth new leaves; some productions and later depictions (e.g., H. G. Wells' The Man Who Could Work Miracles) make the staff burst into bloom, particularly roses.
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 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_eb5b71fe
type
Clingy Jealous Girl
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_eb5b71fe
comment
On the other hand, the most "evil" female in the show, the possessive, vampish Venus, is also the lowest-voiced female in the show.
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_eb5b71fe
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Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_eb5b71fe
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
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Together in Death
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
comment
Together in Death: Some productions end with a vision of Heinrich and Elisabeth ascending to Heaven together.
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
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 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_faece9aa
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The Power of Friendship
 Tannhäuser (Theatre) / int_faece9aa
comment
The Power of Friendship: Inspires Wolfram to try to save Heinrich
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
hasFeature
Evil Sounds Deep / int_6deda021
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
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Femme Fatale / int_6deda021
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
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Forgotten Trope / int_6deda021
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
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Mugged for Disguise / int_6deda021
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
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Opera / int_6deda021
 Tannhäuser (Theatre)
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The Casanova / int_6deda021
 TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland
seeAlso
Tannhäuser (Theatre)
 What's Opera, Doc?
seeAlso
Tannhäuser (Theatre)