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Die Meistersinger von N?rnberg
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, December 4, 1995
Debut : Peter McClintock
Die Meistersinger von N?rnberg (387)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
- Hans Sachs
- Bernd Weikl
- Eva
- Karita Mattila
- Walther von Stolzing
- Ben Heppner
- Magdalene
- Birgitta Svend?n
- David
- Lars Magnusson
- Beckmesser
- Hermann Prey
- Pogner
- Jan-Hendrik Rootering
- Kothner
- John Del Carlo
- Vogelgesang
- Jon Garrison
- Nachtigall
- Christopher Schaldenbrand
- Ortel
- Philip Cokorinos
- Zorn
- Anthony Laciura
- Moser
- John Horton Murray
- Eisslinger
- Charles Anthony
- Foltz
- Richard Vernon
- Schwarz
- LeRoy Lehr
- Night Watchman
- Ren? Pape
- Conductor
- James Levine
- Production
- Otto Schenk
- Set Designer
- G?nther Schneider-Siemssen
- Costume Designer
- Rolf Langenfass
- Lighting Designer
- Gil Wechsler
- Choreographer
- Carmen De Lavallade
- Stage Director
- Peter McClintock [Debut]
Die Meistersinger von N?rnberg received five performances this season.
Review 1:
Review of Shirley Fleming in the New York Post
'Meistersinger' a masterpiece
The Metropolitan Opera seems to have rounded up rounded up every lyrical male singer in the business for its revival of "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg" on Monday.
And that was good news for Wagner's gentlest and most tuneful opera, with its cast ratio of 15 men to two women. It was by any standards a sterling array of low voices: There was not a gruff phrase, not a bark or a growl to be heard all night.
The principal newcomer to this wonderful production, which premiered two seasons ago, was baritone Bernd Weikl, singing the pivotal role of Hans Sachs for the first time here; he was in the formidable company of Ben Heppner as Walther, Jan-Hendrik Rootering as Pogner and Hermann Prey as Beckmesser.
A lesser artist than Weikl might have been swamped, but not he: his kindly, philosophical cobbler was warmly and resonantly sung, and the personality that emerged was all that it should be - humane, wryly humorous, a bit resigned.
Heppner's Walther had all the equipment he needed to face the skeptical mastersingers, and he delivered the Prize Song with ringing tenderness (though he tired, forgivably, at the evening's end).
Rootering's resounding bass rolled out effortlessly and with a notable touch of sweetness; the scene with Eva as twilight falls in Act II included a particularly beautiful sustained high climax, soft and glowing. Prey's bumbling and petulant Beckmesser was a comic delight. Among the Meistersingers, John Del Carlo's Kothner made an especially strong impression.
In this masculine landscape Karita Mattila's Eva shone like a star; her house-filling soprano never loses focus, and the passion of her outpouring love for Walther generated real heat. Birgitta Svenden was her slightly hooty attendant.
James Levine's pacing of the opera was full of vitality, and the Gunther Schneider-Siemssen sets put you right in the middle of medieval Nurnberg. A terrific place to be.
Search by season: 1995-96
Search by title: Die Meistersinger von N?rnberg,
Met careers
- James Levine [Conductor]
- Bernd Weikl [Hans Sachs]
- Karita Mattila [Eva]
- Ben Heppner [Walther von Stolzing]
- Birgitta Svend?n [Magdalene]
- Lars Magnusson [David]
- Hermann Prey [Beckmesser]
- Jan-Hendrik Rootering [Pogner]
- John Del Carlo [Kothner]
- Jon Garrison [Vogelgesang]
- Christopher Schaldenbrand [Nachtigall]
- Philip Cokorinos [Ortel]
- Anthony Laciura [Zorn]
- John Horton Murray [Moser]
- Charles Anthony [Eisslinger]
- Richard Vernon [Foltz]
- LeRoy Lehr [Schwarz]
- Ren? Pape [Night Watchman]
- Otto Schenk [Production]
- Carmen De Lavallade [Choreographer]
- G?nther Schneider-Siemssen [Set Designer]
- Rolf Langenfass [Costume Designer]
- Gil Wechsler [Lighting Designer]
- Peter McClintock [Stage Director]