Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg

Synopsis

The story of the poet-cobbler Sachs and Eva who is pledged to marry the winner of the prize-song contest.

Our Review:

Keith McDonnell - 19 December 2011

There was, unfortunately, more than a whiff of Panto about the Royal Opera’s latest revival of Wagner’s great (some might say dubious) paean to holy German art, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Coming in at fifteen minutes short of six hours, this may not be everyone’s idea of a festive night at the opera and there were times when one’s mind wandered – mine kept harking back to the last time I saw this work in this house – well, the old house to be precise, as I was lucky enough to be present at the last performance in 1997 before the major renovation project began.

Bernard Haitink conducted a flawless performance which is thankfully preserved on disc, and whilst fourteen years have elapsed since then, I couldn’t help but feel short-changed by this latest revival. Time can be very harsh on opera productions and whilst Graham Vick’s staging in Richard Hudson’s designs seemed vibrant and daring back then, now it looks ready for the great production skip in the sk...

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