Tannhauser opera in 3 acts

"David Alden's version of Tannhaüser's conflict in choosing between earthly pleasures and spiritual aspirations as a metaphor for the artist's struggle to unleash his creativity."
"The opera of the legendary Tannhäuser, who applies to the Pope for absolution of his sins and is denied "unless this staff that I hold in my hand bears new green branches.""
"Love story between Venus and Tannhäuser."
""David Alden's production is far removed from traditional representations, seeing Tannhäuser's conflict in choosing between earthly pleasures and spiritual aspirations as a metaphor for the artist's struggle to unleash his creativity. He stirs up the visionary, erotic and archetypal elements in Wagner's work. The cold forbidding aspect of the stylised and predominantly monochrome sets and costumes by Roni Toren and Buki Shiff manifest the straitjacket of tradition that Tannhäuser seeks to free himself from. Filmed over three days by the National Theatre in Munich with the Bayerische Staatsoper conducted by Zubin Mehta and sung by many of today's leading Wagnerian singers.'--SBS Television programme guide Aerial."
"A minstrel knight, weary of the monotony of a year spent with the goddess of love, Venus, decides to return to earth."
"This version by David Alden uses minimalist sets and costumes to depict Tannhäuser's conflict in choosing between earthly pleasures and spiritual aspirations."