from Act III, Scene 3 of the German opera
Tannhäuser by Richard Wagner
Libretto: Richard Wagner
Role: Heinrich Tannhäuser, a minnesinger
Voice Part: tenor Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor
Setting: the valley of the Wartburg, near Eisenach, early 1200's
Synopsis: After returning from his pilgrimage to Rome, Tannhäuser meets Wolfram on the road to the Warteburg. When Wolfram asks him about his journey, Tannhäuser replies with the entire long tale. He went to Rome through great hardships, only to be told by the Pope that he would have no forgiveness.