Wagner aficionados might find the idea of Gustav Neidlinger as Hans Sachs a bit surprising, given his strong association with Wagnerian villains like Alberich and Klingsor. While he may not convey the nobility of Hans Hotter or the vocal richness of Thomas Stewart, Neidlinger uses his gruff baritone to emphasize the everyman quality of the cobbler—a fitting reflection of the opera’s core message.

Neidlinger’s renowned acting skills, which earned him a reputation as one of the leading character baritones of his time, are fully on display here. He imbues Sachs’s prose with remarkable sensitivity and nuance. He is joined by Claire Watson, who is sublime as Eva, and Sándor Kónya as Walther von Stolzing. For this role, a tenor needs to effortlessly bridge the gap between a Wagnerian and Italianate style, and Kónya excels at this as always. Franz Crass also delivers a splendid performance as Veit Pogner.