Tannhäuser

Medieval Germany. The minstrel knight Tannhäuser has been enjoying worldly pleasures in Venusberg, the realm of the goddess of love. However, now he is weary and longs to go back to the human world. Venus pleads him to stay, but Tannhäuser resists and finds himself back in the Valley of Wartburg. He meets his fellow knights and follows them to the castle.

In Wartburg's Hall of Song, Tannhäuser and Elisabeth rejoice in their reunion, and he decides to take part in the song contest. The Landgrave Hermann announces "the nature of love" as the subject of the contest: Wolfram von Eschenbach sings of love as a fountain of pure water and the other knights also sing of spiritual love. However, Tannhäuser contradicts them with his song in praise of Venus and sensual love, revealing that he has been in the Venusberg. The knights try to attack him but Elisabeth intervenes and begs them for mercy. Tannhäuser is ordered by the Landgrave to make a pilgrimage to Rome to seek penance.

Elisabeth prays for Tannhäuser's salvation and awaits his return, but he is not among the group of pilgrims that pass by. Wolfram watches over her and calls on the evening star to guide her way. Finally Tannhäuser appears alone, and he tells Wolfram how the Pope didn't forgive him. In despair, he tries to return to Venusberg but at that moment the news of Elisabeth's death is brought. With the words "Elisabeth, pray for me" he dies and his soul is saved. The chorus praises the grace of God.