【Tannhäuser】Synopsis, Character Map

Siren
Come to the shore. Come to me. Be blessed in the arms of my ardent love.

Naht euch dem Strande

My love, where is your heart?

Geliebter, sag, wo weilt dein Sinn?

Oh, I can’t take it anymore. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, and I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been here. I miss the sun, and I want to look at the moon. Can’t I feel the changing of the seasons anymore!

What are you talking about? What a silly lament.

You are free from suffering and you are spending your time as if you were a god. I loved you and created a world of love for you!

I praise you. I praise you for what your mighty power has given me. I was destined to die, but through your favor, I was saved. But I remain mortal. Your love is too great for me. I seek pain for pleasure. I must leave your kingdom. Let me go.

Dir töne Lob!

Traitor! Have you forgotten how grateful you are to me?

Thank you for your love. If we stay together like this, we will be happy forever. There is all happiness here, but I want to feel nature as it is. Please let me go.

See the cave, my love. The fragrance of roses is mellow in the air. God is also enchanted, and there is sweet joy.

Geliebter, komm! Sieh dort die Grotte

I honor you. My song is always echoing for you. The passion you have poured into me will burn in my heart forever, and I will fight for you against the whole world.

But I want to be free. I want to fight the battles, even if they lead to death and destruction. I want to leave your country. Goddess.

(drops lyre)
I want you to let me go.

Dir töne Lob!

You can go. You’re free to go. I’m not going to stop you. You’ll be back soon anyway. You’ll be hurt by a cold person, and you’ll want me again.

Zieh hin, Wahnsinniger, zieh hin!

I’m not coming back here forever.

You’re not going back! I wonder if the world will ever forgive you. Come back. Your path to salvation is closed.

My salvation is in the Virgin Mary.

A young shepherd
The goddess of Horde (Venus) descends from the mountain and roams the fields. The goddess appears in my dreams. I wake up to warm sunshine, it is May.

Frau Holda kam aus dem Berg hervor

Pilgrims
Jesus Christ. We make a pilgrimage to you. Those who have faith, repent and you will be saved.

Thank you, God. I thank you.

Allmächt’ger, dir sei Preis!

Hermann
Who are those who pray fervently?

Wer ist der dort im brünstigen Gebete?

That man… is Tannhäuser!

Hermann
Is it you? Have you come back to the friends you abandoned because of your pride?

Minnesingers
Are you now a friend or an enemy? If you come back as a friend, I welcome you.

It doesn’t matter what happened in the past. He’s back here.

Hermann
If everyone welcomes him, I’ll welcome him. Where have you been all this time?

I was wandering far away. Please don’t ask me anything. I didn’t come back here to fight. Please let me go on like this.

Hermann
No, you can’t leave.

You must stay with Elisabeth. You’ve won the singing contest so many times. You are the only one who has won the glory.

Is it magic, or is it just pure power? In any case, your songs have won the heart of the chaste princess. Since you’ve been gone, she has not been open to our songs.

You must return and sing to her. May she, like a star, shine on us again!

War’s Zauber, war es reine Macht

Elisabeth! Let’s get back to her.

My dear Hall of Song. Greetings to you. Since he abandoned you, I have seen you as a desolate thing.

He has returned and given life to you and me. Now, Hall of Song. You will receive my greeting.

Dich, teure Halle

Elisabeth is waiting for you. Now, don’t hesitate to go.

Please stand up. Where have you been for such a long time?

So stehet auf!

It was a distant place. But I want to forget it. It is a sublime miracle that I have met you again.

Let me praise this miracle.

Please forgive me. I feel helpless as if I am in a dream. I used to love to listen to the singers’ sing.

But you were different. Your songs brought me to life and caused me to feel emotions and desires that I had never felt before. In the face of the rapture of your song, I could no longer love what I had loved before.

You left me and I lost my peace of mind. You have done a terrible thing to me.

Verzeiht, wenn ich nicht weiss, was ich beginne!

Praise be to the God of love. It is the God of Love who has stirred your heart, and it is the God of Love who has led me to you.

Praise God for this time. Praise the power that brought me such good news.

Gepriesen sei die Stunde

Praise God for this time. Praise the power that made me say joyful words from you.

（My hopes are dashed…)

Hermann
Elisabeth. I never thought I’d see you at the Hall of Song. You haven’t been here for a while. Are you finally ready to tell me how you feel?

Dich treff ‘ich hier in dieser Halle

I can’t tell you about it yet.

Hermann
You can always confide in me. Now, the singing contest will be held. The nobles will be gathering soon.

People
With joy, enter the noble hall of fame. It is a place where art and peace are ever-present.

Freudig begrüssen wir die edle Halle

Hermann
In this hall of fame, many beautiful songs have been sung. Let’s start a singing contest. The theme is “The Nature of Love”. Whoever comes up with the most valuable answer will be rewarded by Elisabeth.

Gar viel und schön ward hier in dieser Halle

Four noble pages
Wolfram, you may begin.

My heart burns as I look at the noble people gathered here. Brave knights, chaste ladies, I am intoxicated by this view.

When I look at the starry sky, there is one star that shines brightly. My spirit becomes reverent. And look. A miraculous fountain (woman). It causes graceful joy to flow from me.

I do not want to pollute this fountain (woman). From this song, the noble ones will see. “The purest essence of love”

Blick’ ich umher in diesem edlen Kreise

Knights and ladies
Wonderful. Reward this song!

It’s Wolfram. I have felt the same happiness. In the same way, I praise the virtues of the fountain (woman).

But I can’t approach the fountain (woman) without a burning desire. To quench my thirst, I will kiss her without hesitation. I will burn with desire forever and taste the fountain (woman) forever.

Wolfram. This is the true nature of love.

Walther von der Vogelweide
The fountain (woman) that Wolfram mentioned is the true form. You are trapped in your craving for the Fountain. You do not know the true nature of the Fountain.

Fountain (woman) is a virtuous being. You may worship the Fountain as much as you like. However, do not approach the Fountain to heal your passions. The fountain will lose its miraculous power.

From the fountain (woman), it is right to enrich the heart, not the mouth.

Den Bronnen, den uns Wolfram nannte

Knights and Ladies
Hail. The prize is yours!

Walther, your song distorts the picture of love. You say such things because you’ve never enjoyed lust.

O Walther, der du also sangest

Biterolf
What the hell, you can fight us. Bring your sword.

Heraus zum Kampfe mit uns allen!

Blow, Beetleolf. It’s funny how you, like a wolf, sing about love. Poor wolf, what have you ever enjoyed about love?

Ha, tör’ger Prahler, Biterolf!

Oh, God. Let me plead with you. Endow my song with divine power. Driveaway unclean sins from this noble and pure assembly!

O Himmel, lass dich jetzt erflehen

O Goddess of Love, teach these wretches the joy of love. Go, go. If you want to know love, go to the mountain of Venus!

Dir, Göttin der Liebe, soll mein Lied ertönen!

Knights and Ladies
This man was in the forbidden land of Venusberg!

Hermann and Knights
He was in Venusberg. We have to expel him.

Please don’t do this.

Hermann and Knights
Are you defending that man? How dare a chaste maiden to defend him! You have suffered the worst betrayal of all. He has no redeeming qualities, he must be punished!

Get away from him. You are not his judges. Listen to the words of the pure maiden. He must be redeemed by showing remorse.

Zurück von ihm! Nicht ihr seid seine Richter!

A messenger of God was sent to me to lead sinners to salvation. But I foolishly and blasphemously touched her. O Thou who hast sent me the angel of salvation, have mercy on me in my sinfulness.

Zum Heil den Sündigen zu führen

Hermann
You have committed a terrible sin. We’re going to banish you. There is only one way of salvation left for you. Go on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Hermann, Knights, and Minnesingers
Go with the pilgrims. You must atone for your sins. Do not return without the blessing of the gods.

O God of grace and mercy, make him walk toward You. He needs to be forgiven for showing remorse. I pray for this man.

Pilgrims’ Voices
Those who reflect must be saved.

To Rome!

Nach Rom!

All
To Rome!

I thought she was praying here. Elisabeth is waiting for Tannhäuser’s return. She is praying for his salvation.

Wohl wusst’ ich hier sie im Gebet zu finden

Pilgrims
Happy now, O homeland, I can see you. To those who repent, grace salvation is given. Hallelujah.

Beglückt darf nun dich, o Heimat, ich schauen

That song… it’s the pilgrim.

He’s not coming back.

Almighty Virgin Mary. Hear my prayer. Receive me from this place. Receive me as an angel. I want to see Mary and ask her for help. I want to ask you to help Tannhäuser to be saved.

Allmächt’ge Jungfrau, hör mein Flehen!

Elizabeth. Would you like to stay with me for a while?

When the darkness covers the area like a premonition of death, the beloved star appears.

Wie Todesahnung Dämmrung deckt die Lande

O my evening star (Venus), shine softly for her as she walks the streets at night. Please shine on her until she leaves the earth and becomes an angel.

O du, mein holder Abendstern

I hear the sound of a lyre, and it makes me very sad. I’m sure it’s not the tone she would play.

Ich hörte Harfenschlag

Who are you to wander alone away from the line of pilgrims?

It’s me. Wolfram.

You’ve come back here without redemption!

Listen to me, Wolfram. But stay away from me. I am cursed.

Hör an! Du,Wolfram

With more redemption in my heart than any other pilgrim, I set out for Rome. More than any other pilgrim, I chose the path of hardship. But though I went to Rome, I was not forgiven. They say I will be saved when a fresh green bud sprouts on my withered staff.

Venus. Take me now.

Inbrunst im Herzen

Wait! Don’t give up.

A soft breeze! A gentle scent. Can’t you feel it?

I’m glad you’re here. Unfaithful man! Tannhäuser. Come on, let’s go.

You are the magic of hell. Do not deceive the man! Tannhäuser. The angel who prayed for you on earth will soon be watching over your head. Elisabeth!

Elisabeth!

Oh, it’s going away.

Holy Elisabeth! Pray for me.

Heilige Elisabeth, bitte für mich!

Young pilgrims
A miracle of grace occurred and salvation was given to the world. The withered staff held by the priest has sprouted new green shoots. Even sinners in the flames of hell are saved anew.

Heil! Heil! Der Gnade Wunder Heil!

Hermann, knights, and pilgrims
The salvation of grace has been granted. He is now in blessed peace.