Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Vladimir Jurowski, Conductor
The new Opera House at Glyndebourne, which opened in 1994, allowed Glyndebourne to entertain the possibility of staging a Wagner opera for the first time in their 60 year history.
Tristan und Isolde was first in 2003, followed by the staging of this production of Die Meistersinger in 2011. The largest production ever to appear on the Glyndebourne stage.
Glyndebourne’s founder Sir John Christie (1882-1962) had a life-long passion for Wagner and staged an amateur performance of Act III of Die Meistersinger (casting himself as Beckmesser) on June 3rd 1928 … well before the Festival was established in 1932.
On this recording, Gerald Finley makes his debut as Hans Sachs, portraying Sach’s character sensitively and sympathetically; his voice nothing short of glorious. Johannes Martin Kränzle as Beckmesser beautifully handles this insecure and second-rate talent with a first rate performance.
Marco Jentzsch as Walther is extremely impressive, his Heldentenor voice wonderfully warm yet assertive. Conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, he clearly understands the soul and humanity in this opera. With Jurowski at the helm, orchestral textures and colours are kept light and alive, resulting in a sound world somewhat different to most other available recordings. His reading remaining true to score and, most importantly, to the meaning of the opera.
This recording draws the listener in from the first note to the last, leaving one with music ringing in their ears for some time afterwards. 4 hours flies by!
- Gerald Finley (Hans Sachs)
- Marco Jentzsch (Walther von Stolzing)
- Anna Gabler (Eva)
- Johannes Martin Kränzle (Beckmesser)
- Michaela Selinger (Magdalene)
- Topi Lehtipuu (David)
- Alastair Miles (Veit Pogner)
With The London Philharmonic Orchestra & The Glyndebourne Chorus
November 2013
Tracklisting
Act 1 – Vorspiel (Prelude)
Act 1 Scene 1 – Da zu dir der Heiland kam
Act 1 Scene 1 – Verweilt! Ein Wort!
Act 1 Scene 1 – Da bin ich; wer ruft?
Act 1 Scene 2 – David! Was stehst?
Act 1 Scene 2 – Aller End’ ist doch David der allergescheit’st’!
Act 1 Scene 3a – Seid meiner Treue wohl versehenAct 1 Scene 3a – Zu einer Freiung und Zunftberatung
Act 1 Scene 3a – Das schöne Fest, Johannistag
Act 1 Scene 3a – Das heißt ein Wort, ein Wort, ein Mann!
Act 1 Scene 3a – Am stillen Herd in Winterszeit
Act 1 Scene 3a – Nun, Meister! Wenn’s gefällt
Act 1 Scene 3b – Fanget an!
Act 1 Scene 3b – Halt! Meister! Nicht so geeilt!
Act 2 Scene 1 – Johannistag! Johannistag!
Act 2 Scene 2 – Lass sehn, ob Meister Sachs zu Haus?
Act 2 Scene 3 – Zeig’ her! ‘s ist gut
Act 2 Scene 3 – Was duftet doch der Flieder
Act 2 Scene 4 – Gut’n Abend, Meister!
Act 2 Scene 5 – Da ist er!
Act 2 Scene 5 – Geliebter, spare den Zorn
Act 2 Scene 6 – Jerum! Jerum!
Act 2 Scene 6 – Freund Sachs! So hört doch nur ein Wort
Act 2 Scene 6 – Den Tag seh’ ich erscheinen
Act 2 Scene 7 – Zum Teufel mit dir, verdammter Kerl!
Act 3 – Vorspiel (Prelude)
Act 3 Scene 1 – Gleich, Meister! Hier!
Act 3 Scene 1 – Wahn! Wahn! Überall Wahn!
Act 3 Scene 2 – Grüß Gott, mein Junker!
Act 3 Scene 2 – Mein freund in holder Jugendzeit
Act 3 Scene 2 – Morgenlich leuchtend im rosigen Schein
Act 3 Scene 3 – Ein Werbelied! Von Sachs! Ist’s wahr?
Act 3 Scene 3b – Das Gedicht? Hier lies ich’s
Act 3 Scene 4 – Sieh’ Evchen! Dacht’ ich doch, wo sie blieb’!
Act 3 Scene 4 – Hat man mit dem Schuhwerk nicht seine Not!
Act 3 Scene 4 – Selig, wie die Sonne meines Glückes lacht
Act 3 Scene 4 – Nun, Junker, kommt!
Act 3 Scene 5 – Sankt Krispin, lobet ihn!
Act 3 Scene 5 – Die Meistersinger! Die Meistersinger!
Act 3 Scene 5 – Silentium! Silentium! … Wach’ auf, es nahet gen den Tag
Act 3 Scene 5 – Euch macht ihr’s leicht, mir macht ihr’s schwer
Act 3 Scene 5 – Morgen ich leuchte in rosigem Schein
Act 3 Scene 5 – Das Lied, fürwahr, ist nicht von mir
Act 3 Scene 5 – Morgenlich leuchtend im rosigen Schein
Act 3 Scene 5 – Verachtet mir die Meister nicht