Search - Daniel Barenboim, Matthias Holle, Andreas Schmidt :: Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg / Barenboim

Fantastic!

Santiago Barcon | Mexico city | 11/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After spending saturday listening, twice, to the 4 CD's I am still ready for more.Regardless of the "problems" of a live recording, like stage noise, I belive that operas are better served in this enviroment. Recording quality, and high audio equipment, has improved to the point that is near to be there. You get the sense of the performer moving around and, thanks God, people does not cough like in the historic recordings.Mr. Barenboim conducts in a very adequate manner this romantic opera and the performers are up to the task. The strings of the Bayreuther Festspiele are warm and the metals command perfect control.The cast is enormous and to have a perfect sound talks marvel of this recording.A must buy."

A Fearless,Genuine Walther

Guntram | PR,Brazil | 01/03/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nearly the ideal "Meistersinger" but that same problem ever;an old Hans Sachs voice just razing the performance,all in all Sachs is all but one third of this opera.In fact,Holl doesn't ruin Barenboim so severely like Van Dam did on last Solti's version.My disagreement on previous rewiew concerns the leading couple.I loved them;Emily Magee sings a cheerful Eva,just perfect to her fellow,Peter Seiffert,in my opinion,the reason because this set is an indispensable one.There aren't any,one single bar of weariness or vocal laziness by him.In his voice,Walther is a genuine happiness,a so fearless guy that he can be the Wagner's alter ego embodiment.I was bewitched by his commitment and strenght on "Prize Song" that has something special,unfamiliar even on the best Heppner's recordings.You must to listen this performance,also because Seiffert's voice improves a lot on Bayreuth acoustics.Schmidt sings a less caricatural Beckmesser than usual,Hölle'singing is decaying,something like Eva's grandfather and others singers are Ok.Barenboim is shining,from prelude until the end,hasty sometimes,to be truthful.Fine chorus but Bayreuth Orch. players are the real eminences;St Catherine's Church employed a dazzling cellist that night,and so on.Let me tell you;this is gorgeous.Forgive that old age Sachs and just buy!"

Near Perfect Recording

Stephen T. Kulig | Pomfret Center, CT USA | 10/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording confirms my belief that Barenboim's best Wagner recordings are those made at Bayreuth. Whether that is because of the cast, the orchestra or the atmosphere of a live performance I don't know. What I do know is that any Wagnerian will be pleased with this recording. I can't find any flaws and can't seem to stop listening."