17 minutes of thunderous applause, a storm of bravos, standing ovations. It took a long time before the enthusiastic audience released the “Meistersinger” ensemble for the premiere celebration….
Soloists and choir were repeatedly called to the stage, and director Barrie Kosky experienced an audience reaction quite unusual for him: almost unanimous approval for himself and his entire team. In his production, the Australian-born director addresses the antisemitism of the Wagner clan, interweaving Villa Wahnfried (where Act 1 takes place), Jewish pogroms, and the Nuremberg war crimes trials (Act 3). There, he grants Richard Wagner’s work an acquittal: the medievally dressed “Meistersinger” character occupies the courtroom, celebrating a musical happening there (also known as Festwiese). On the tables of judges, defense, and prosecution, the people dance Wagner out of the indictment files. Particularly celebrated by the audience: Michael Volle (Hans Sachs), Johannes Martin Kränzle (Beckmesser), Klaus Florian Vogt (Stolzing), and Philippe Jordan (Musical Direction).
Acquittal for Richard Wagner …
