Richard Wagner: Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Die) (PAL) (Arthaus DVD)

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg), opera in three acts
From The Deutsche Oper Berlin 1995
Cast: Wolfgang Brendel, Gosta Winbergh
Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Conductor: Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
This title is not available in the US and Japan
Running Time : 266 min
Menu languages: PAL: GB, D, F, SP NTSC: GB, F, J, SP
Subtitle languages: PAL: GB, D, F NTSC: GB, J, F
Picture Format: 16:9
Sound Format: PCM Stereo
Region Code: 0
( 2 DVD)
Sel. No. 100 152 PAL
Sel. No. 100 153 NTSC

Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg is Richard Wagner's most celebratory opera, and is indeed the epitome of the festival opera. It is therefore no surprise that it is often performed at the opening and reopening of opera houses. The frequent performance and playing of the radiant prelude at festive occasions is also on account of the character of the music. As an opera it is furthermore the only comedy among the serious and heavily symbolic works of Wagner. Composing Die Meistersinger after Tristan und Isolde must be the greatest contrast in operatic history, proof of the artist's ability to give each of his works a specific tone. Few works of the operatic world are politically so burdened as Wagner's Meistersinger von Nürnberg, which was known to be Hitler's favorite opera. The production by Götz Friedrich for the Deutsche Oper in Berlin (premiered on 1 May 1993) places the action among the post-war ruins of Nuremberg in 1945, treating this difficult aspect of Meistersinger's history of popularity in an impressive fashion.