Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Despite his disdain for some of the sillier aspects of grand opera, H.L. Mencken once said that Die Meistersinger was the greatest single work of art in Western civilization--and, to many, his hyperbole is forgivable when one contemplates the well-crafted structure of this most human of Wagner's music dramas. Of all recordings of his sole comedy, this one under the baton of Karajan in his prime has perhaps the best-balanced cast. The clear, youthful tones of Donath in the role of Eva must be close to Wagner's ideal for the role, while Adam makes a compassionate Sachs--though not quite as resonant as one would wish. Kollo's impetuous style is appropriate to the character of the love-struck Walther. The orchestral playing has the clarity and transparency that is the trademark of the Karajan approach, perhaps most appropriate in this, Wagner's happiest work. --Christian C. Rix
Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg / Kollo · Donath · Adam · G. Evans · Schreier · Hesse· Riderbusch · Karajan, Music, Richard Wagner, Herbert von Karajan, René Kollo, Helen Donath, Siegfried Vogel, Ruth Hesse, Karl Ridderbusch, Staatskapelle Dresden, Geraint Evans, Peter Schreier, Hermann Christian Polster, Zoltan Keleman, Eberhard Buchner, Horst Lunow, Hans Joachim Rotzsch, Horst Hiestermann, Heinz Reeh, Theo Adam, Classical, Classical Music, German/Austrian Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta
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