COMPOSERS: Wagner
LABELS: Sony
WORKS: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
PERFORMER: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Hans Hotter; Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Aushilfschor und Mitglieder des Lehrergesangvereins & Bayerisches Staatsorchester/Joseph Keilberth
CATALOGUE NO: 88697594932
Historic but still handsome-sounding Wagner hails from the opening of Munich’s Bavarian State Opera 18 years after the bombing. Joseph Keilberth keeps Die Meistersinger all helpfully on the move, Prelude included, and distinguished casting includes Josef Metternich as a minor master and Hans Hotter as Pogner. You probably wouldn’t have wanted to hear him as protagonist Hans Sachs at this late stage, but frankly anything would have been better than the truly dreadful Otto Wiener, who very nearly ruins everything. David Nice