Exceptional production of delicate musicality
It's tempting to make a snap judgement about a production of a Wagner opera right from the first note, and it's surprising just how accurate that judgement can often turn out to be. I'd suggest that you can get a feel for the tone of the whole 2011 Glyndebourne production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnburg just from Vladimir Jurowski's conducting of the London Philharmonic Orchestra through the opera's beautiful overture. Being Wagner, everything is there upfront in the Vorspiel to Act I, and in such a work with its richness of meaning and infinite ways of interpretation, you could aim for an approach that is respectful and serious, emphatic and declamatory, sensitive and romantic, even playful and irreverent and you would still be touching on vital ingredients that are all part of the make-up of Die Meistersinger von Nürnburg. You might well pick up elements of those qualities in this Glyndebourne production - and by rights they should all be in there - but from the very...
Die Meistersinger
When I read a grossly over-praised review, I chuckled. This blu-ray is a must buy with caveats - if you can forgive the adequateness of Hans Sachs' voice quality and the poor singing of Von stolzing which I did. The production is very beautifully done in a traditional staging. Gerald Finley is a lyric baritone whose career spinned around Mozart's operas. He demonstrates intelligent singing, but his voice lacks depth and volume and his voice is not dark enough to be a persuasive Sachs. I also noticed that he tried too hard to be an intelligent Sachs and he became self-conscious for his phrasing. At times, he sounded like singing Mozart concert arias instead of a live opera. The other drawback is the he looked too young to be Hans Sachs on stage. I was hoping that they could have made his hair a little greyish, but they did not. So, I just pretended that he was old enough knowingly he looked the same age as Eva while watching. So it takes some mental adjustments just for viewing and it...
intimate Meistersinger
Die Meistersinger is usually one of the grandest of grand operas, but her you get a small scale version with an outstanding lead-Gerald Finley is simply wonderful in creating a Hans Sachs who is younger than most but more moving than most.
Vladimir Jurowski's conducting of the London Philharmonic Orchestra is wonderful.
Glyndebourne is a venue that is small for this opera, but David McVicar creates a production that brings has singers to the forefront and creates wonderfully real characters- he's made a virtue of a handicap.
Some will miss the huge chorus and the pomp of Meistersinger's contest, but the humanity of this production (especially of Gerald Finley's Hans Sachs) makes this a more moving experience than usual.
Amazon's price makes this a very attractive buy.
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