Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Opera House

Dates: May 31-June 07, 2018

About

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg was composed from 1845 to 1867 and completed after Tristan und Isolde, and premiered at the National Theatre Munich in 1868. The work holds a unique position among operas by Richard Wagner, since it is his only "comic" opera and has lively music. The plot is based on an historical social context that include figures of the period. The protagonist Hans Sachs was the most famous “Die Meistersinger” in German history, who had written numerous poems to celebrate the spririt of humanity and life, making significant contributions to German art in the 16th Century. The figure was used by Wagner to express his ideal of reforming art and delivering high praise for German culture and art.

This version is a co-production of the NCPA, Royal Opera House, Convent Garden and Opera Australia, and a second opera produced by the NCPA in collaboration with the Royal Opera House after Andrea Chénier, which was launched in 2015.

Synopsis

Walther von Stolzing, a knight from another province, falls in love with goldsmith Veit Pogner’s daughter Eva, but Veit has intended to marry his daughter Eva to a singer that will win a singing competition, so Stolzing enrolls in the competition. Unfamiliar with singing skills and competition rules, obstructed by clerk Beckmesser, who has set his mind to marry Eva, Stolzing gets eliminated in the trial match. Nevertheless, shoemaker Sachs sees a force in Stolzing’s talent for singing, which enables him to sing in an unconstrained manner. So, Sachs hopes to achieve a higher ideal.

That evening Stolzing prepares to ask Eva to run away with him, when Beckmesser, outside the window, is serenading the maidservant Magdalena, who is passing herself off as Eva at the window. Sachs is making shoes at the door. He is striking the anvil with a nail hammer in order to record the mistakes Beckmesser makes in his singing only to awaken the neighbours. In the melee, Beckmesser is drubbed by David, Sachs’ apprentice who has unrequited love for Eva. Sachs pulls Stolzing into his house and asks Eva to return home quietly.

Early the next morning, Stolzing tells Sachs that he has heard a song in his dream, and when he sings it, Sachs cannot help but be charmed by it. Sachs keeps a record of the lyrics and music and makes a revision. After they enter the room, Beckmesser walks in claiming to have something to important to tell Sachs, but he sees the music score on the table and walks off with it. In the finals, Beckmesser sings the song, but he makes mistakes since he doesn’t understand the lyrics. When it’s Stolzing’s turn, he demonstrates the elegance of the lyrics with music, bringing down the house. Eva Pogner crowns Stolzing, who is crowned, “Die Meistersinger” by Veit Pogner. Sachs speaks highly of Stolzing’s spirit of art and purity, and all those present show deep respect for him.