Customer Reviews

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg / Weikl, Studer, Heppner, Moll, Lorenz, van der Walt, Kallisch; Sawallisch

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's too bad Amazon doesn't stock this one anymore, because it was a really excellent recording. Heppner is a fantastic Walther, which is not surprising since he's been fantastic in everything I've ever heard him in. Studer's Eva doesn't sing a single shrill or sour note throughout the entire four-disc set. Sawallisch is as able a Wagner conductor as any, and the orchestra plays the music clearly and with feeling. Also, the audio engineering of the CD was top-notch.

The rotten thing about such grand undertakings is that it only takes one weak link in the chain to ruin the whole thing. Luck spared this recording from weak links. If this one disappears from the shelves, it will be a sad day for Wagnerians everywhere.

This is the one that works best for me.

Heppner is fine. Freer of spirit than with Solti. I prefer Studer here. I'm not a huge fan of the lady, but here she does a wonderful job. Weikl has the role well in hand. He's in good voice. The rest of the cast falls into place nicely.

The recorded sound is very natural. The orchestra is, well, how many hundreds of times do you suppose they've played this music? They just simply know it.

And Sawallisch is joyous. No superstar conductor here. This is a man who clearly understands Wagner is the star. He understands the score.

I love this recording.

Until someone "discovers" the greatest young heldentenor of his generation, Robert Dean Smith, and puts him in front of a microphone with a great conductor and orchestra to immortalize the greatest Walther (and Lohengrin and Parsifal and Siegmund) alive, this will do quite nicely.

Sorry for the blunt title. Just so tired of gruff, thin voiced Sachs's I could scream. What's with these conductors, sheesh.

Stick with Solti's first version or Barenboim for decent Sachs. Otherwise a fine set. sheeeesh

Barenboim's sound will floor you, get it.

For me this is the most balanced and best engineered set with a cast that is brilliant. I try to avoid recordings that feature Rene Kollo and Ben Heppner reminds me why. Heppner has a lyric heldentenor voice that is perfect for Walter. Studer is in her prime as Eva. The Sachs or Weikl is warm. Kurt Moll, who could the phone book and I would listen is a wonder Pogner.

Sawallisch direction is sweeping, warm and magnificent.

There are few Meistersinger recording out there, although most of the listern go for the well know signer and conductor cast, like the Karajan or Jochum!!! I found this recording done by Sawallisch is the best out of all other recordings. The music flow is well balanced, and the cast are well chosen. This can be heard best in the night scence with Sach warning Eva by sing overlap Beckmesser!!!