The principals in this performance have all been heard elsewhere (except the Czech-Argentine mezzo Ruzena Horakova who offers a feisty, well-sung Magdalena), but there is a sense of ensemble that is most enjoyable. You would never guess Schöffler was already in his 60s, his voice steady and strong throughout. He may lack the geniality of other interpreters, yet it's easy to hear why he was so admired in this role for so long. Brouwenstijn sings beautifully and makes us care about Eva, a good thing because if we don't care about Eva there's no plot. Hopf is rather leathery; I admire his skill and stamina, but prefer him in other roles (especially Italian ones). Dickie and von Rohr are first-rate as is the young Berry though he smudges his coloratura in his little aria in Act One. The chorus sings either in Spanish or Italian, but switch to German for "Wach auf!" in the last scene. Leitner leads a well-paced performance, but beware: there are A LOT of cuts, especially in Act Three. Frankly, I don't mind. Meistersinger is very long and sometimes Wagner beats certain points to death. The sound is a little congested (the big ensembles can sound rather noisy), but is certainly listenable. As a filler, Andy gives us Schöffler singing three of Sachs' monologues from the 1943 Bayreuth Festival performance, including the entire concluding "Verachtet mir die Meister nicht", chopped in half in the complete performance so one can hear him sing the entire passage if one chooses.

I purchased this recording because of Walter Berry singing Kothner. Pretty bad sound but here his voice is very clear, beautiful and energetic. I wonder why he could not sing Hans Sachs in 1968 Bayreuth...

Here is a joyous, if somewhat heavily cut, performance from the Teatro Colon, with the chorus singing sometimes in Spanish, sometimes not. Paul Schoeffler is a mellow Sachs, one of gentle wit. Other than Walter Berry's Kothner, I don't know that I'd call any of the other soloists outstanding but, except for Hans Hopf's uncouth Walther, they forge a sense of ensemble. Ferdinand Leitner keeps things moving but brings out passing felicities of orchestration along the way.