Program notes courtesy of WFMT.
Join us on Saturday at 1 pm for a broadcast from the 2021 WFMT Radio Network Opera Series, with Wagner's Tannhäuser, presented by the United Kingdom's Royal Opera. This production was first broadcast in 2016, in Tim Albery’s acclaimed production.
One of today’s leading Wagnerian tenors, Peter Seiffert takes on the title role of the young troubadour knight who is torn between spiritual love and carnal desire. Wagner’s opulent score melds together the worlds of the sacred and profane. Tannhauser, having been charmed by love goddess Venus (Sophie Koch), comes to his senses and returns to his mortal love, the chaste heroine Elisabeth (Emma Bell). However, he sings of passionate rather than courtly love, which shocks her and her community. He promises to seek atonement and redemption, but the illicit attraction of Venus continues to beckon. Harmut Haenchen conducts the soloists, orchestra and chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
CONDUCTOR: Hartmut Haenchen
CAST:
Tannhäuser: Peter Seiffert
Wolfram von Eschenbach: Christian Gerhaher
Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen: Stephen Milling
Elisabeth, Hermann's niece: Emma Bell
Venus: Sophie Koch
Walther von der Vogelweide: Ed Lyon
Heinrich der Schreiber: Samuel Sakker
Biterolf: Michael Kraus
Reinmar von Zweter: Jeremy White
A Young Shepherd: Duncan Tarboton
Elisabeth's attendants: Kiera Lyness, Deborah Peake-Jones, Louise Armit, Kate McCarney
Chorus: Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen
