Description:

It is rare to find a cast in a Wagner opera that can convincingly convey youth on stage. In this production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, youthful energy radiates from the performances of Anja Silja as Eva and Jess Thomas as Walther. Their vibrant portrayals bring added vitality to Wagner’s most human opera, heightening the poignancy when the elder Sachs must relinquish his dream of a life with Eva.

Otto Wiener handles the demanding role of Sachs with skill, supported by a wonderfully colorful cast of Meistersingers. When I saw that Thomas Schippers was conducting, I expected an excessively brisk interpretation, but this performance is anything but rushed. Schippers masterfully conveys the expansive breadth of Wagner’s melodies. The sound is very good.

OD 10680-4