Tannhäuser (tenor) is sick of the sensual pleasures of the Venusberg and longs for the simple joys of earthly life. The love goddess Venus (soprano) summons a magic grotto and tempts him to surrender to ecstasy, but Tannhäuser invokes the Virgin Mary and Venus disappears. Hermann (bass), the Landgrave of Thuringia, and minstrels approach. Wolfram says that in their earlier song-contests, Tannhäuser won the love of Elisabeth (soprano), the Landgrave's niece. Going to the Hall of Song, Tannhäuser throws himself at Elisabeth's feet. They sing together of love. The Landgrave announces a new song contest; the winner will receive his prize from Elisabeth herself. Wolfram (baritone) sings first and uses the image of a fountain to sing of the purity of love. The audience enjoys his song, but Tannhäuser retorts that the fountain of love fills him only with burning desire.
