, 1865-01-13

Tannhauser, the great work OF Wagner, which
has created more debs:e than any other opus o
! the present century. will be performed by til,
German Opera compsny this evening. Az 1t Is II
| opera untirely unknown here, We append IN ad
mtsable analysis Of the work from the pan o
| scCdo, the eminent French csl'ir:
The subject 9: the piece Is drawn from Germar
legend OF the thirteenth century, and relates to
national nesitutton Of that epoch, 70 the existence
| n1ddle ages, Who preceded the drst revival oi
tury. The substance OF this pious legend, which
bcars tho impress Of The ncc in which It was con.
cetVed and Of the people whose zaiye beliefs 1t
nature, between pa2cnisn' and christianity, be.
love which contents Itself with the divine emo.
ls tic game question that Waa So often treated
By the courts Of love and by the tronbadours OF
tnc iaagH< doc. Tannhauser, fnc and rali:nt
how, into remote country called the Vcnusbe7g,
tla: IL 10 saF the mountain Of Venus. There lie
If, IL an enchanted erotto under the charm Of the
pleasures, ms Arnida 1uils.1o sleep Rinado By hsr
magical se6uctions. Nevertheless, Tannh2uscr
slehs, and the memory Of hiz poetic youth rises
K M s assp s e. wsnes IL s e ~ a "ha as
ker sr'' ha4 'e.s as5 to reIsn eel
Ht R31 t. sassa;d ss%pH he hss 5 5aeeRz aG E
Elnce between Arm'da and Rinaldo, Tannhauscr
csfcapes from thc vcnushcrs. he suddenly tlnds
mael NC snoT @ pot Il What IN the mid
cognized hy his old rade., the singers and the
MndrTaye Of ThuriaGia. They question him, ask
him whence be comes what le has been doing,
happy 10 possess him. N1thoutreplying in very
precise manner, Tannhnuser Eays tnat be has com.
nnitted great Sin. and that It Is necessary be
Fl shod ebpae pet i he By isResans s?Res himself s9a o
Wolfram, then saya to him, II low voice, !. %
ness Of her south eince 5ou have left ust" At the
mention Of this adored name Tannhauscf decides
10 return 10 the court Of the lanagraye OF 1hurIQ-
els. Tins ends the first act.
in Inc great hall Of The singers where Tannhansef,
aieth egain, her heart flled with his memory.
After the recognition Of The two lovers and the ex-
llanations which follow the festival Of the sjnycEs
btate glorious date IN the nafsonal history.
The lancEIayc Is great protector Of the
a1t Of inc speech an5 pleasant wit;
r f c o.
thut he who shall have beet fathomcd the nature Of
lpyc 6tnll receive the hand Of Elizabeth for hls
WErd A Ibis oposa wlnSh sssites ths ambi-
hoch rises, takes Ills Tyre: and slngs the wonders
Of true love which il 20 high thing, rs a French
poet Of the same period, Crchcn dc Troyea, said.
Of Wolfram, which asures The variety Of Taunhau-
eer, who rises boldly and, upon his trembling lyre
proceeds to celebrate 2 passion less chasie, and
posaeesion Of the loved object Elizabeth,
partial to Tannhnufcr. whoa she loves in secret,
appears to approve this mode Of viewing love;
II third s III sneer, Watther, replies to Taanhsaser
that real love Il like virtue, which fortfcs itself
BY struggle sud By abstinence, and succumbs by
safety, and that II is in the heart alone that this
n, of fH.4a1
WHO has not forgotten his sojourn nj the Venus.
eion o this abstract love Of the intellect and that
for his part he knows no other love than that
which hrs pe0plcd the uniyersc. These words
excite . profound INDIGNATION In the assembly.
All declain '*ue is lost1 be is damned! he has
Ieit hIe soul at the Vcn9sbe!Ei" Elizabeth de-
hm niT iii s ths!r as n
Then tho laudcfave, with etern face, ordafns
that Tannhaueer be expelled from his court md
from the country Of Thurtneta. Iaunhanscr r.
70 ppon pilgrimage to Rome, there to rcconquer
the grace ct baptism which he hae lost
The third act shows ns the valley Of the VAST
burg, where the poor Elizabeth Is kneeang at The
esion she 1nyokes for the safety OF Tannhauser,
whom k1e Inns 60 long wnitcd In vain. Tannhauser
presently apPears IN the dress Of pilgrim, ana
hia VET. the rceult of his journey to Rome The
Pope hns not granted his prayer. but has answered
that he thali not obtain pardon for his crime until
eea Fetu1a aFe to {Se
Ncnusberg." "lnsensate you arc Lost foreveri"
Then struggle takes rlacc. between Wolfram,
wbo ill., me Eoea r3nis and
stRgc to her dear Iannhauscr, drawing him with
all her might to her side. Al length ChristianjtY
seens the ees bas Of the pooS ane Eizs
FrnJ foz me-"