Richard Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg - Van Dam, Seiffert - Welser-Möst - Zürich, 2004EMI Classics
Hans Sachs - José Van Dam, Veit Pogner - Matti Salminen, Kunz Vogelgesang - Martin Zysset, Konrad Nachtigall - Cheyne Davidson, Sixtus Beckmesser - Michael Volle, Fritz Kothner - Rolf Haunstein, Balthasar Zorn - Volker Vogel, Ulrich Eisslinger - Andreas Winkler, Augustin Moser - Boguslaw Bidzin´ski, Hermann Ortel - Giuseppe Scorsin, Hans Schwarz - Guido Götzen, Hans Foltz - Reinhard Mayr, Walther von Stolzing - Peter Seiffert, David - Christoph Strehl, Eva - Petra-Maria Schnitzer, Magdalene - Brigitte Pinter, Ein Nachtwächter - Günther Groissböck
Chor Des Opernhauses Zürich, Zusatzchor Opernhaus Zürich, Ballettschule für das Opernhaus Zürich, Statistenverein Am Opernhaus Zürich & Orchester Der Oper Zürich, Franz Welser-Möst
In a world where tears and woe are the order of the day, this celebration of joy is a most welcome event. Apart from its political overtones, 'Die Meistersinger' is above all, an experience of love and happiness, which, if interpreted in all its Wagnerian spirit, can become infectious. And this performance is exactly that.
As in 'Tannhäuser' from the same Zürich Opera, Peter Seifert is again in one of the principal roles and he triumphs once more in a rendition of Walther so beautiful that it seems that this role was created only yesterday. The other main singers all give their weight in their respective manner, but José van Dam (Sachs) and Petra-Maria Schnitzer (Eva) shine like stars in a firmament of bliss.
It is also quite clear that this mammoth opera was very well-rehearsed. Testimony to this is the shimmering orchestral sound Welser-Möst produces from the Zürich Opera Ensemble. This young conductor can now be considered to be a true Wagnerian and hopefully he will set down more Wagner operas on DVD in the future. Sets and costumes are simple yet adequate but this should not detract you from acquiring this competitively priced package that offers an outstanding performance. --Classicalnet
