Richard Wagner's early masterwork "Tannhauser" will return to the Metropolitan Opera stage after an 11-year absence on Oct. 8. The work will be featured in the famed Otto Schenk production that dates back to opening night of 1978.

Those who love Wagner will want to check out "Tannhauser" as it is the only work in the composer's oeuvre being presented at the famed opera house during the 2015-16 season.

The Music

In many respects, "Tannhauser" is among the "easier" works for audiences from the legendary composer. While it certainly retains many of the rules Wagner established in his music drama (through-written music, no formal structures for music pieces), this work is filled with more structural moments than any of Wagner's other works. To please the Parisian Opera, Wagner added a "ballet" early on within Venus' realm. The eponymous character sings a few songs and there is a climactic song contest that climaxes in a well-defined "Pezzo concertante" of the Italian opera. There is also a wondrous pilgrim chorus that is among the work's highlights.

The third movement features one of Wagner's most famous arias for the baritone voice, a tranquil and yet nostalgic melody that is as catchy a melody as Wagner ever wrote. Throw in the overture, which adheres to traditional structures of said piece, and you have a work filled with memorable melodies to put some ease on the lengthy running time.

There are a few moments in the work in which Wagner's forward thinking musical self comes to the fore -- none more present than Tannhauser's narrative of his trip to Rome. This lengthy monologue emphasizes declamation in favor of melodic gestures, a precursor to what he would use extensively in his later works.

The History

"Tannhauser" has performed 471 times in Met history. It premiered at the house on Nov. 17, 1884, featuring a cast that included Anton Schott in the title role, Auguste Seidl-Kraus as Elisabeth, Adolf Robinson as Wolfram and Anna Slach as Venus. Leopold Damrosch was at the podium with Wilhelm Hock direction the first production.

Among the tenors to take on the title role at the Met are Lauritz Melchior, Hans Hopf and James McCracken.

Sopranos known for the role of Elisabeth at the Met have included Elisabeth Rethberg, Leonie Ryasnek, Birgit Nilsson and Eva Marton.

Famous Wolframs include Lawrence Tibbett, Hermann Prey, Bernd Weikl, Bryn Terfel and Alan Monk.

Irene Dallas, Grace Bumbry and Tatiana Troyanos have been among the numerous singers to take on the role of Venus.

In the 2004 revival of the work, Peter Seiffert sang the title role with Deborah Voigt as Elisabeth, Thomas Hampson as Wolfram, Michelle DeYoung was Venus and Kurt Moll sang Hermann.

The Production

The current Otto Schenk production made its debut on opening night of the 1978-79 season. As has been the case with every Schenk production at the Met, the sets are vibrant, detailed and filled with beautiful period imagery. This is "Tannhauser" as Wagner likely imagined it.

Those expecting to see traditional sets will be pleased while, those expecting an avant-garde rendition of the work will not get what they are looking for.

The Singers

This year's revival will be simulcast in the Met's long-running "Live in HD Series." Every performance will feature the same cast throughout.

South African tenor Johan Botha will take on the title role. He has made a name for himself at the Met singing such Wagner roles as Walter in "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg," Siegmund in "Die Walkure" and the title role in "Lohengrin." He has also sung the title roles in Verdi's "Otello," "Don Carlo" and Radames in "Aida."

As his star-crossed lover Elisabeth will be soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek. The Dutch singer made her Met debut in 2011 as Sieglinde in "Di Walkure" and has sung in such operas as "Francesca da Rimini," "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" and "Cavalleria Rusticana."

Rounding out the cast are Swedish baritone Peter Mattei as Wolfram, Michelle DeYoung as Elisabeth and Gunther Groissbock as Hermann.

James Levine will conduct the run.