The young Wagner divided between two types of woman: one a saint, the other called Venus, who has a grip on the singer Tannhäuser, an artist sated by orgies but plunged into an underground grotto of sin amidst satyrs, fauns, bacchants and sirens.  Medieval singing contests, authentic Minnesängers, scandalous songs praising sensual love, choirs and marches of pilgrims, wild dances, regrets, doubts and a sorrowful final redemption.

Wagner’s romantic lacerations are in the expert hands of Zubin Mehta and the inspired Catalans of Fura dels Baus accompanied by a truly stellar cast.