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It is hard not to wonder what the audience must have felt during this 1949 performance of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg from Munich. The physical and mental scars from World War II were far from healed, and the country had to come to terms with their sense of nationalism free of the iconography of National Socialism. Years later you get the sense that whatever emotional baggage remained must have been washed away during the six or so hours of this stirring performance. Hans Hotter carries most of the show. Captured during his absolute prime, he brings vitality and dynamism that is rare in this role. Günther Treptow brings a robust if somewhat wooden tone to Walther von Stolzing and Annelies Kupper is an energetic Eva. Eugen Jochum does an excellent job in keeping the orchestra light and sprightly. The sound is very good.

OD 11279-4