This new staging of Richard Wagner's "Meistersinger" burst upon the Salzburg Festival like a thunderclap. Stefan Herheim's idea of staging a midsummer night's dream as a fairytale narrative is enchanting and with this admirably matched ensemble of excellent singer-players, all of whom bring sharp contours to their roles, and the brilliant details of characterization make each scene an experience to cherish. This unbelievably lavish and absolutely splendid stage set radiates youthful charm and conjures up a flood of incomparable images. Roberto Sacca is a Walther von Stolzing who shows effortless control in his superb realization of the part; Michael Volle has both the voice and the acting ability to flesh out a fascinatingly multi-layered portrait of the masterful Hans Sachs.

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