Ian Judge directs the production — of which we offer a few glimpses below. Tenor Peter Seiffert stars as the titular knight, torn between chaste, virtuous love and the carnal delights of Venus's mountain abode. Lioba Braun portrays Venus, with Petra-Maria Schnitzer as the unsullied Elisabeth. Franz-Josef Selig sings the role of Elisabeth's uncle, the Landgrave Hermann, with Martin Gantner as Wolfram von Eschenbach, Tannh‹user's rival for the love of Elisabeth.

Tannh‹user receives six more performances from February 28 to March 18. Details and tickets are available at www.laopera.com — where there is a warning stating that "Viewer discretion [is] advised: This production contains nudity and strong sexual content."

* * * * * * * *

All photos by Robert Millard, courtesy of Los Angeles Opera.