Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Ouvertüre
2. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 1. Naht euch dem Strande
3. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 2. Geliebter, sag? Wo weilt dein Sinn?
4. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 2. Dir töne Lob! Die Wunder sei'n gepriesen
5. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 2. Dank deiner Huld, gepriesen sei dein Lieben!
6. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 2. Geliebter, komm! Sieh dort die Grotte
7. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 2. Stets soll nur dir, nur dir mein Lied ertönen
8. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 2. Zieh hin, Wahnbetörter, zieh hin!
9. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 3. Frau Holda kam aus dem Berg hervor
10. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 3. Zu dir wall ich, mein Jesus Christ
11. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 4. Wer ist der dort in brünstigem Gebete?
12. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 1. Scene 4. Als du in kühnem Sange uns bestrittest

Disc 2:

1. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Introduction and Scene 1. Dich, teure Halle, grüß ich wieder
2. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 2. Dort ist sie; nahe dich ihr ungestört!
3. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 2. Gepriesen sei die Stunde
4. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 3. Dich treff ich hier in dieser Halle
5. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Einzug der Gäste. Freudig begrüßen wir die edle Halle
6. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Einzug der Gäste. Gar viel und schön ward hier in dieser Halle
7. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Blick ich umher in diesem edlen Kreise
8. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. O Wolfram, der du also sangest
9. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Heraus zum Kampfe mit uns allen!
10. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. O Himmel! Laß dich jetzt erflehen!
11. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Ha! Der Verruchte! Fliehet ihn!
12. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Zurück von ihm! Nicht ihr seid seine Richter!
13. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Zum Heil den Sündigen zu führen
14. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Ein furchtbares Verbrechen ward begangen
15. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 2. Scene 4. Der Sängerkrieg. Mit ihnen sollst du wallen

Disc 3:

1. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Einleitung: Tannhäusers Pilgerfahrt
2. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 1. Wohl wußt' ich hier sie im Gebet zu finden
3. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 1. Beglückt darf nun dich, o Heimat, ich schauen
4. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 1. Allmächt'ge Jungfrau! Hör mein Flehen!
5. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 2. Wie Todesahnung Dämmrung deckt die Lande
6. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 2. O du mein holder Abendstern
7. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 3. Ich hörte Harfenschlag, wie klang er traurig!
8. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 3. Inbrunst im Herzen, wie kein Büßer noch
9. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 3. Dahin zog's mich, wo ich der Wonn und Lust
10. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 3. Willkommen, ungetreuer Mann!
11. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70: Act 3. Scene 3. Hei! Hei! Der Gnade Wunder Heil!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26322 in Music
• Released on: 1989-09-27
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: .69 pounds

Amazon.com
Another Paris Tannhäuser recording, this one seeing the adaptable Placido Domingo take a break from the world of Italianate opera to try on the mantle of Heldentenor. Domingo's clear, manly voice is well suited to the transformation--precisely why Italians usually don't think of him as a bella voce. Agnes Baltsa approaches the role of Venus in a less shrill and more human manner than often is heard in portrayals of the excitable goddess. The sound is exceptionally clear in the recording, a comparatively newer digital mastering from the late 1980s. The chorus work is good, though not quite on the sublime plane reached in the Georg Solti recording. Maestro Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in a measured, stately manner. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews

First choice, by a small margin
Tannhäuser has been recorded surprisingly rarely: I believe the only studio recordings are Solti's from 1971, and this Sinopoli from 1988. Neither recording is ideal, but I believe this recordings virtues are slightly greater than those of the Solti.

First and foremost is Plácido Domingo, whose silvery, ringing voice is ideal for the title role. His German is eccentric, but he is forgiven for the excellence of his voice. He is far superior to Kollo for Solti. Cheryl Studer sings a beautiful, well-characterized Elisabeth, but is not always ideally steady and is no match for the radiant Helga Dernesch (Solti). Agnes Baltsa characterizes well, but similarly does not have an ideal voice and is inferior to Christa Ludwig. Andreas Schmidt, though, is a beautiful, velvety Wolfram, singing beautifully in his Act III solo. Matti Salminen sings well but is rather uneven. The rest of the cast is excellent, and the Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden contributes inspired choral work. Sinopoli directs the Philharmonia Orchestra warmly and lyrically; his interpretation is more flexible than Solti's sometimes stiff, cold account. Sinopoli takes the Overture rather more slowly than usual, which is a little strange at first, but gradually gets better. Sinopoli also controls the transitions excellently. Superb liner notes and a libretto are included. The digital sound is fabulously clear and rich. In the end, the virtues of this recording outweigh the drawbacks. This is as fine a recording as the work has yet received.

A sonic and vocal winner!
For a recording over ten years old, the small number of reviews here is surpising. I think Domingo and Studer make this a superb recording, singing with full, sonorous voices without a hint of strain. Their voices ring. Domingo triumphs in acts one and three and Studer owns Act two. The sound is rich and full and Sinopoli brings passion and drama a plenty to the recording. I fail to see how this is an "awful recordng". But we listeners all come with our own expectations. The recording certainly deserves to be heard and it is the only recording of Tannhauser tha I own and plan to own. I hope more people will at at least hear the recording and review it. I think that this recording in particular makes more lamentable Sinopoli's recent death. Balsta definitely falls short of Ludwig's peformance. Schmidt sings well doing justice to his song in act three and the chorus is top notch. Gramophone, Opera Now, Penguin Guide, Opera News, Stereo Review (in the olf format) gave the recording good to raving reviews. That many peole can't be totally wrong. Give the recording its due.

Best Tannhauser out there
This is probably the best recording of Tannhauser that is out there, of which there are a fair number. First the positives. Domingo's voice is excellent for the title role with very smooth and with clear annuciation (impressive, considering it is not one of his main languages). He also inparts his professional sense of passion to all of his music, Italian or German. He also does not "overdo" his singing of the role as some do (specifically Kollo's in Solti's recording). Sinopoli's direction of the Philharmonia Orchestra is very good. I actually enjoy the Overture at a slower pace, such that it is not rushed as in some recordings (i.e. Levine with the MET on DVD). He also makes sure that the orchestra does not overwhelm the singers at any point. The Philharmonia is always technically excellent as well. Andreas Schmidt is also wonderful as Wolfram. Now for the negatives. Neither of the female leads (Studer or Baltsa) are as impressive as the male characters. The other complaint that I would have is that the Chorus of the Royal Opera House as they are technically okay, but don't seem to have much passion for the music. I can't recall a Pilgrim's chorus that was tame as this one. However, all in all, this recording is probably the best that is out there because of the orchestra and male leads.