Tannhäuser

Richard Wagner's 1845 opera—essentially an allegory of the struggle between sacred and profane love portrayed in the longing of the titular knight for both the virtuous Elisabeth and the voluptuous Venus—is solidly performed in this 2008 production from the Baden-Baden Festival (using the 1861 Paris revision, with one insertion from the earlier Dresden version: Walter von der Vogelweide's contribution to the singing contest in Act 2). In terms of the music, the performance by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin is vivid and powerful, while Philippe Jordan's conducting is strong. Tannhäuser is Robert Gambill's signature role—signaling his debut a decade ago—but now the effort shows, and with veteran Waltraud Meier in the role of Venus displaying similar strain, only Camilla Nylund, playing Elizabeth, demonstrates the sheer vocal freedom demanded by Wagner's writing. The staging, centered around a huge spiral staircase, is elegant but sometimes peculiar: the opening bacchanal, featuring dancers who appear to be dressed as larvae doing battle with a black bull, looks especially silly (in the bonus “behind-the-scenes” documentary, the symbolism is explained—somewhat unconvincingly). Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and PCM stereo, this is recommended, overall. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)