See it if you like top-notch productions,epic music & powerful voices. Schenk's naturalistic & faithful sets are a refreshing reminder of classic MET.
Don't see it if you don't like Wagner or long operas. This is a 4.5+ hour evening of music with plot (such as it is) moving at a snail's pace. Act III drags Read more
See it if You want to see a great cast singing a traditional opera. It is hard to think of how you could come with a better cast.
Don't see it if If you have a hard time sitting through a 4.5 hour production with two intermissions. I was not overly tired because it held my interest.
See it if you like classic / Wagnerian opera on a grand scale with an eye-catching set and excellent performances; excellent all around!
Don't see it if you don't like Wagner, can't sit for 4.5 hrs, might be frustrated by dated themes (but it's a classic opera, so should be expected)
See it if As lyrically soaring as Wagner's music is, the melodic romanticism of Andreas Schager's Tannhauser leaves one drained; ditto van den Heever
Don't see it if Despite the beautiful austerity of Schenk's staging, this 1977 production is getting a little threadbare yet still serves the legend well
See it if A medieval German folklore/historical figure plot with knights, swords
Don't see it if To avoid Venus ORGY ballet scenes, it's also approx 4.5 hours long..very sensual, sad too
See it if The music is maybe the best Wagner ever did (esp. the overture for Act I). The sets are lovely, w/multimedia flawlessly incorporated.
Don't see it if Wow is it long. And sad. And so slow it feels longer. To call it glacial is to insult glaciers. But it's among the GRANDEST of grand opera.
See it if you’re a Wagner fan or just want to see a classic German grand opera well sung, played, and staged at the beautiful Metropolitan Opera House
Don't see it if you don’t like opera or can’t sit for a 4 1/2 hour opera or need a more relevant subject (though redeeming love is the basis of this story) Read more
See it if You like traditional staging of a great Wagner opera. The Met chorus is sublime and kudos to the Met on this extraordinary cast!
Don't see it if You can't sit through a 4 hour opera. Wagner is not for everyone but if you like Wagner this cast and production are as good as it gets.
CRITIC'S PICK! "A revival of Wagner’s 'Tannhäuser' was notable for the arrival of Christian Gerhaher. ... Gerhaher is one of our finest living lieder singers, a raconteur and a chameleon, a perceptive and persuasive interpreter whose approach to text shines in the recital hall."
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