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'Die Meistersinger' is unique in Wagner's output, and indeed in the wider field of German comedy too.
It is Wagner's only comedy; and it alone of his 'mature' operas derives its characters and setting, not from myth,
but from a simple story set in late medieval Nuremberg, revolving around the historical character of Sachs.
Act lll (Scenes 1-lV) Photographs 3-53
It is morning. Sachs is sitting in his sunny work-shop reading from a large book. First his apprentice, David, arrives and then Walther. Walther tells Sachs of a song that had come to him in a dream and sings part of this, his "Prize Song". Sachs instructs him in the rules and makes a note of the song.
They all go out, and Beckmesser, the Town Clerk, appears. He sees Walther's song, which Sachs had left lying around, and, thinking that it is Sach's song (as it is in Sach's hand) suspects that Sachs is also a rival for Eva&#...
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Conductor: Anthony Legge
Anthony is Director of Clonter Opera and the Mastersingers Company and works regularly with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Opera and Opera Australia.
He was Head of Music at English National Opera for 14 years. He is now Director of Opera at the
Royal Academy of Music, London.
He is the author of 'The Arts of Auditioning' (Peters Edition)
and The Singer's Handbook: a Guide for Aspiring Singers. (Faber)
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The morning after Midsummer's Eve!
The role of Hans Sachs was sung by James Rutherford.
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Last night there was a riot in Nuremberg.
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The whole town was caught up in a frenzy...
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David caught Beckmesser serenading his girlfriend.
The role of Beckmesser was sung by Robert Preseley
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Things quickly got out of hand.
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Everyone is very tired and hung-over!
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A solo 'cello represents the only voice of sanity.
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Midsummer madness everywhere.
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Midsummer is a traditional pagan festival.
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JAMES RUTHERFORD [Hans Sachs]
Sachs tries to make sense of what happened last night.
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JAMES RUTHERFORD [Hans Sachs] (left)
TED SCHMITZ [David]
His apprentice, David, gives his account of events.
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Today there will be a song competition.
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David rehearses his song.
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He has brought a picnic for later!
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Sachs hears his young pupil's song.
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Perhaps Sachs will enter the competition himself?
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Sachs reflects on 'Wahn': delusion, mania, folly.
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Sachs upbraids citizens of Nuremberg for their behaviour.
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They cannot explain what possessed them last night......
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......but they see Sachs is angry.
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Perhaps it is a mischievous spirit?
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....or the scent of the elder tree that was to blame?
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Sachs will harness that spirit to engineer a happy outcome!
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Walther has had a wonderful dream.
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It must be turned into poetry for the song contest.
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But first Walther needs to learn the rules.
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Walther isn't interested in the old rule book.
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Sachs asks him to recount his dream, and has it written down.
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Walther sings of his inspiration, Eva.
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The judges aren't too impressed!
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So Walther sings another verse.
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This sets the panel thinking.
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.........and gets a much improved vote.
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Sachs is also impressed.
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He sends Walther off to prepare for the song contest.
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Beckmesser relives the nightmare of yesterday's events.
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Ghostly figures mock Beckmesser.
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He suspects that Sachs is his rival for Eva's hand.
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Isn't Sachs responsible for ruining his serenade last night?
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Isn't this a love-song written by Sachs?
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"Not mine" says Sachs - "help yourself!"
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Eva visits Sachs, her closest friend.
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Eva wants Sachs to help Walther win the song competition.
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She pretends her shoe is hurting.
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.....but really Eva wants Sachs' blessing.
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Eva hears Walther singing his love-song.
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Sachs brings Eva and Walther together.
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They listen as Sachs announces the birth of Walther's new poem.
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Sachs makes his apprentice, David, a witness to the event....
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...and announces the baptism of a new work or art.
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Everyone joins in the baptismal ceremony.
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Competition Singer 1
ALESSIA MANKOVSKAYA
(Sang Bellini's "Se Romeo La tremenda untrice spada & Wagner's "Gerechter Gott" from his opera 'RIENZI'
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Competition Singer 2
MIRANDA WESTCOTT
(Sang Wagner's "Des Engel" from the WESENDONCK LIEDER & Britten's "Give him this orchid" from his 'RAPE OF LUCRETIA')
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Competition Singer 3
VERENA GUNZ (Mezzo)
Sang Wagner's "Gerechter Gott" from 'RIENZI' & Richard Strauss's "SEIN WIR WIEDER GUT' from 'ARIADNE AUF NAXOS'
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Competition Singer 4
REJIELI PAULO
(Competition Winner)
Sang Wagner's "Dich teure Halle" from 'TANNHAUSER' & Richard Strauss's "Es gibt ein Reich" from 'ARIADNE AUF NAXOS'
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Competition Singer 5
LAURA HUDSON
(Runner Up)
Sang Wagner's "Mild und Leise" from Tristan und Isolde and Verdi's "La luce langue" from MACBETH.
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LIONEL FRIEND
Conductor & Pianist
Bio:
Lionel studied at the Royal College of Music and with the conductors Colin Davis and Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt. He made his debut with Welsh National Opera and worked as Kapellmeister in Kassel and with Glyndebourne Festival Opera before joining the Music Staff at English National Opera [ENO] where he conducted over 30 productions from Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner, to Berg, Britten and Tippett.
For 2 years he was assistant to Daniel Barenboim at the Bayreuth Festival. His recent Wagner performances include Gotterdammerung for the 50th Perth International Festival 2003, Tristan & Isolde for West Australia Opera, and The Flying Dutchman at the Barbican, London.
He has conducted some of Europe's leading orchestras and ensembles, and is also in demand as a repetiteur and accompanist, appearing in recital at the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh Festival and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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(Left-Right) LIONEL FRIEND
GEOFFREY PATTERSON
NICK FOWLER (Baritone)
Rehearsing "Die Zeit ist da"
(Wagner's 'PARSIFAL')
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GEOFFREY PATTERSON & NICK FOWLER
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LIONEL FRIEND (left) expressing an opinion to GEOFFREY PATTERSON.
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LIONEL FRIEND (left) with Andrew Griffiths and
ELAINE McKRILL (soprano)
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ELAINE McKRILL (soprano)
"O Siegfried, Siegfried"
('SIEGFRIED' Act lll)
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"And the winner is........!
RALPH WELLS (extreme left)
ANTHONY NEGUS (Conductor & Senior Member of Music Staff Welsh National Opera) with microphone.
Judging Panel: ISABEL MURPHY (Director of Opera Planning, Welsh National Opera) and DAVID GOWLAND (Director of Jette Parker Artists Programme, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
+ the competitors.
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ANTHONY NEGUS warmly embraces
REJIELI PAULO - Winner of the Competition.
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RALPH WELLS (Wagner Society)
REJIELO PAULO ~ Competition Winner
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RALPH WELLS (Wagner Society)
LAURA HUDSON (soprano) 'RUNNER UP'
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The winner and the runner-up.
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"I still can't believe I've won"
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