Although it was not Wagner's intention to have the same singer perform the roles of Elisabeth and Venus in Tannhäuser, in the hands of Gwyneth Jones, it makes perfect sense. The dual roles allow this dynamic singer to demonstrate her remarkable range, both vocally and dramatically. What is particularly fascinating about her portrayal is that she does not create allegorical archetypes representing polar opposites of feminine virtue, but instead presents two fully fleshed-out, well-rounded characters. This approach adds considerable depth to the opera. Hermin Esser is a solid Tannhäuser, though he does not quite match Jones in bringing his character to life. Bernd Weikl as Wolfram, and Hans Sotin as Hermann, deliver some of the best singing of the night, while Franz Mazura's Bitterolf is the definition of luxury casting.