"L.A. Opera is back big time with Tannhäuser" - The LA Times
After escaping an erotic entrapment with the goddess Venus, Tannhäuser returns to the real world to pursue the virtuous love of a mortal woman. But in a momentary lapse of judgment, he shocks the town with a passionate affirmation of carnal delights... which definitely doesn't help him woo the innocent young woman heʼs smitten with.
Issachah Savage, an incredible heldentenor — German for “heroic tenor” (meaning: he'll knock your socks off) — stars as Tannhäuser, bringing his rare, beautiful voice to one of the most challenging roles in opera. Who knew the struggle between sin and salvation would sound so good?
All tickets now on sale below and include our ticket guarantee: should anything change and you don’t feel comfortable joining us, we’ll be happy to exchange or refund your tickets free of charge. Save more when you purchase a 2021/22 subscription package.
Important COVID-19 Audience Policy Update: LA Opera has adopted a temporary vaccination-only policy in addition to requiring masks. These guidelines will be in effect beginning September 1, 2021 and will end as soon as they are deemed no longer necessary. Please click here to review all protocols.
New Breathe Easy Section
Pending availability, LA Opera has made some seats available in certain sections where the seat next to you and your party could be blocked off. Seats in our Breathe Easy Section are extremely limited and available only by calling the Box Office at 213.972.8001.
Pre-performance talk update:
Each season, James Conlon’s pre-show talks are an enormously popular highlight of every performance he conducts. Since Stern Grand Hall is currently unavailable for large, stationary gatherings (due to COVID-19 restrictions), the pre-show talk for Tannhäuser has been reimagined.
This time, James Conlon’s Tannhäuser talk will be filmed and made available to watch from home. You can watch the pre-show talk by clicking here or from the link in the event reminder email you receive before the date of your performance. Additionally, for all performances—the talk will be screened on large outdoor monitors on the Music Center Plaza for audiences to enjoy, beginning one hour before the opera.
“Saturday night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion probably ranks among my greatest nights in the theater and I’m finding the superlatives in my thesaurus inadequate to the task.”
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Issachah Savage as Tannhauser in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Issachah Savage as Tannhauser and Yulia Matochkina as Venus in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Yulia Matochkina as Venus and Issachah Savage as Tannhauser in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Yulia Matochkina as Venus in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Yulia Matochkina as Venus in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Yulia Matochkina as Venus and Issachah Savage as Tannhauser in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Issachah Savage as Tannhauser in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Sara Jakubiak as Elisabeth in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Sara Jakubiak as Elisabeth and Morris Robinson as Hermann in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Morris Robinson (center) as Hermann, with Sara Jakubiak (in white) as Elisabeth and Issachah Savage (far left) as Tannhauser in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Issachah Savage as Tannhauser in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Sara Jakubiak as Elisabeth in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Issachah Savage as Tannhauser and Philip Cokorinos as Biterolf in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Sara Jakubiak as Elisabeth in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Sara Jakubiak as Elisabeth in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Lucas Meachem as Wolfram in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Lucas Meachem (left) as Wolfram, with Issachah Savage as Tannhauser and Yulia Matochkina as Venus in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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Yulia Matochkina as Venus in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser"
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Yulia Matochkina as Venus in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
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The chorus of pilgrims in LA Opera's 2021 production of "Tannhauser."
Cory Weaver / LA OperaCast
- TANNHÄUSER
- Issachah Savage
- ELISABETH
- Sara Jakubiak
- VENUS
- Yulia Matochkina
- HERMANN
- Morris Robinson
- WOLFRAM
- Lucas Meachem
- BITEROLF
- Philip Cokorinos
- Walther von der Vogelweide
- Heinrich der Schreiber
- REINMAR
- Patrick Blackwell
- Shepherd
- Erica Petrocelli
Creative Team
- CONDUCTOR
- James Conlon
- ORIGINAL PRODUCTION
- Ian Judge
- DIRECTOR
- Louisa Muller
- SCENERY AND COSTUMES
- Gottfried Pilz
- Additional Costumes By
- Misty Ayres
- Lighting
- Marcus Doshi
- CHORUS DIRECTOR
- Grant Gershon
- CHOREOGRAPHER
- Aszure Barton

Read the synopsis
Want to enjoy all of the Wagnerian podcasts we have in our operatic arsenal? Click here.
It is important to note that while Richard Wagner is considered one of the most important and influential of all composers, he is also rightly reviled as having been an anti-Semite. For more information on this topic please click here.
Click here to read James Conlon's essay on Tannhäuser.
Click here to read the digital program.
An LA Opera original production
Performed in German with English subtitles
Running time: approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes, including two intermissions
Production made possible with generous support from an Anonymous Donor and a Consortium of LA Opera Board Members.
Issachah Savage’s appearance is generously underwritten by a gift from The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award.
Single Tickets Now On Sale
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