Customer Reviews
'Meistersinger' in English: Good News, Bad News -- Mostly Good - By: J Scott Morrison, 03 Aug 2008 
This is a much-talked-about live recording, long thought lost, of a BBC broadcastin 1968 of an English-language production of Wagner's 'Die Meistersinger' from the Sadler's Wells Opera (now called the English National Opera). It was conducted by Reginald Goodall who was all but unknown then but who soon became known & much lauded for his conducting of Wagner's operas. It has an all-English cast, all but one of whom were singing their roles for the first time; the exception was Norman Bailey, who had sung Hans Sachsin Germany (in German, of course).
First, the bad news: Sound quality is not the best. There is some tape hiss, occasional poor balances, a good deal of stage noise (my goodness, you can really hear a lot of clumping aroundin the last act entrance of the apprentices!), & somewhat dodgy stereo separation. Early on Norman Bailey's voice is rather woolly, although it improves & his vocal acting is marvelous. Margaret Curphey's Eva can turn acidulous, but she is terrificin the last act Quintet. There are some cuts -- primarily a verse from David's first act catalog of tones & from Beckmesser's second act song. The orchestral playing is not always as suave as one might hope. And, of course, there will be those who will be put off by this quintessentially German opera being sungin English. And indeed the translation, by Frederick Jameson (with some changes by Norman Feasey & Gordon Kember) has a few thee's & thou's that make it sound a bit old-fashioned. Still it is an effective translation & it sings well.
Any negatives are outweighed by the good thingsin the recording. Bailey's Sachs is effective -- & he has the best diction of anyonein the cast; he is human, affecting, suitably humorous, gruff, tender or serious as needed. The David of Gregory Dempsey is one the best I've ever heard. Derek Hammond-Stroud plays Beckmesser as a bit of a caricature, but he sings the music rather than sketching it as many Beckmessers do. Alberto Remedios is one of the best Walthers on record. His tone is meltingly lyrical & he is actually able to sing softly when required, unlike some. He is ardent, heroic, & naïvein turn. His Prize Song is magical, aided significantly by Goodall's rapturously paced conducting. Noel Mangin's Pogner is excellentin his long aria. The rest of the mastersingers are at least adequate or, asin the case of David Bowman as Kothner, much better. Ann Robson is a younger-sounding Magdalene & she sings well. Stafford Dean, then quite young, is a marvelous Nightwatchman. The chorus is sterling from their very first notes at the end of the overture to the paean to Sachs that closes the opera.
The real hero of this performance is Goodall. This is a leisurely-paced 'Mastersingers' but there is never a lull or longueur. Rhythms are well-sprung & the quieter or more lyrical moments are breathtaking, asin the Act III prelude & the last act Quintet. He can build up real excitement, too, asin the overture & the third act entrance of the apprentices & mastersingers, not to speak of the riot that ends Act II.
The boxed 4CD set is being offered for the price of 3CDs & it includes a complete libretto. This will probably not be anyone's only 'Meistersinger', but it certainly belongs on the shelves of those who love this opera & have other recordings of it.
Scott Morrison
The holy grail of opera recordings - By: Nh Wills, 04 Jul 2008 
The previous review sums it all up. The conducting, playing & singing is sublime. The recording/ remastering quality for a radio broadcast is brilliant.
I played all 4 cdsin one sitting the day I bought it.
The only slight negative is the singingin an english translation it does take a bit getting use to (the composer probably would turnin his grave)
If you want to have only one recording of this great masterwork it is well worth considering
