Mastodon Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus & Finale - The Wagnerian

Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus & Finale

Written By The Wagnerian on Tuesday 14 May 2013 | 7:36:00 am




Two productions: Bayreuth and the MET. Not picked specifically because they were "traditional" stagings but because they were the only relevant clips on Youtube. 



With joy, my home, I now behold thee,
and gladly greet thy smiling meadows;
now I lay down my pilgrim's staff,
for, submissive to God, I have made my pilgrimage.
By atonement and repentance I have made my peace
with the Lord, to whom my heart bows down,
who has crowned my remorse with blessing,
the Lord to whom I raise my song.
The grace of salvation is granted to the penitent,
who shall enter into the peace of heaven!
Hell and death cannot affright him,
therefore will I praise God all the days of my life.
Halleluja for evermore!

With joy, my home, I now behold thee,
and gladly greet thy smiling meadows;
now I lay down my pilgrim's staff …






WOLFRAM
An angel prayed for you on earth,
soon she will send her blessing down to you.

VENUS
Come to me!

WOLFRAM
Elisabeth!

TANNHÄUSER
Elisabeth!

MINSTRELS AND MALE CHORUS
Hail to the soul that now has flown
from the body of this virtuous sufferer!

WOLFRAM
Your angel pleads for you at God's throne,
and her prayer is heard! Heinrich, you are saved!

VENUS
Alas! Lost to me!

From the Wartburg a funeral procession bears an open coffin

MINSTRELS AND MALE CHORUS
Hers be the angels' blessed reward,
the rich crown of heavenly joys.

WOLFRAM
Do you hear the chant?

TANNHÄUSER
I hear it!

MINSTRELS AND MALE CHORUS
Blessed be the pure one, who now stands
among the heaveniv host before the Eternal!
Blessed be the sinner for whom she wept,
for whom she implored heaven's mercy!

Wolfram leads Tannhäuser to the coffin, on which he sinks

TANNHÄUSER
Holy Elisabeth, pray for me!

He dies.

PILGRIMS
carrying in their midst a priest's staff covered in fresh, green leaves
Hail! Hail! Hail to this miracle of grace!
Salvation to the world is given.
In this holy hour of night the Lord
hath manifested himself through a miracle.
The barren staff in the priest's hand
he has decked with fresh green:
so to the sinner in Hell's flames
shall redemption bloom anew!
Proclaim it through every land
that through this miracle he found grace!
God reigns high above the whole world,
and his compassion is never sought in vain!
Halleluja! Halleluja
Halleluja!

LANDGRAVE, MINSTRELs, KNIGHTS AND PILGRIMS
The grace of God is granted to the penitent;
now he enters into the bliss of heaven!