[Met Performance] CID:196010



Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Metropolitan Opera House, Tue, October 15, 1963




Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (313)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Hans Sachs
Paul Schöffler

Eva
Lisa Della Casa

Walther von Stolzing
Sándor Kónya

Magdalene
Blanche Thebom

David
Murray Dickie

Beckmesser
Karl Dönch

Pogner
Ezio Flagello

Kothner
Norman Mittelmann

Vogelgesang
Paul Franke

Nachtigall
Calvin Marsh

Ortel
Robert Patterson

Zorn
Andrea Velis

Moser
Gabor Carelli

Eisslinger
Robert Nagy

Foltz
Louis Sgarro

Schwarz
Norman Scott

Night Watchman
Clifford Harvuot


Conductor
Joseph Rosenstock


Director
Nathaniel Merrill

Designer
Robert O'Hearn

Choreographer
Todd Bolender





Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg received seven performances this season.

Review 1:

Review of John Ardoin in Musical America
It seemed a hardship to the Metropolitan Opera's fine orchestra and chorus to have scheduled Wagner's "Die Meistersinger" for the second night of the season, October 15. The day before had been the open*ing-night "Aida," and the afternoon of the 15th was spent in the dress rehearsal of "Manon." When 7:15 in the evening rolled around, neither group seemed ready to face four and one half hours of the concentration that Wagner's score demands. Nor was conductor Joseph Rosenstock enough of a dynamo to fire these tired spirits into more than routine efforts.

After a sluggish Act I, however, the proceedings were more palatable, thanks to a superb quintet of principals: Paul Schöffler (Hans Sachs), Lisa Della Casa (Eva), Sandor Konya (Walther), Murray Dickie (David) and Blanche Theborn (in her first Metropolitan Magdalene). Schöflfer's portrayal of Sachs is one of the memorable characterizations of the contemporary opera scene. Here was not a chain of studied gestures and effects but a compassionate and deeply touching account of the role. The same humane understanding went into Schöflfer's singing, which was particularly awesome considering the baritone is now 66.

Lisa Della Casa is certainly one of opera's great beauties, and she and Sandor Konya cut a pair of believable and romantic figures as the young lovers. Miss Della Casa's voice was a bit dry for the quintet, but elsewhere she sang radiantly. Konya seems far more comfortable as Walther than he did last season, and his singing was fresh, intelligent and effortless. How wonderful it was really to hear the part of Magdalene for a change, thanks to Miss Thebom's well-projected and warm voice. Murray Dickie was, again the excellent David.

Karl Dönch's Beckmesser seemed overly farcical in Act II, but elsewhere a delight. The other fine meistersingers were Ezio Flagello, Norman Mittelmann, Paul Franke, Calvin Marsh, Robert Nagy, Gabor Carelli, Robert Patterson, Norman Scott and Louis Sgarro.


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