Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2 DVD-Video)
Historical Studio Production from the Hamburg State Opera, Recorded in 1970
Sung in German
Hans Sachs: Giorgio Tozzi
Veit Pogner: Ernst Wiemann
Fritz Kothner: Hans-Otto Kloose
Sixtus Beckmesser: Toni Blankenheim
Walther von Stolzing: Richard Cassilly
David: Gerhard Unger
Eva: Arlene Saunders
Magdalene: Ursula Boese
Ballet and Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera
The Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg
Leopold Ludwig, conductor
Joachim Hess, TV director
Picture format: NTSC 4:3 (Colour)
Sound format: Dolby Digital Mono
Region code: 0
Menu Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Subtitle Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Running time: 240 mins
No. of DVDs: 2 (DVD 9)
The 1970 film version of Richard Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is based on a staging by the director Leopold Lindtberg, for which Herbert Kirchhoff designed the set and Rudolf Heinrich the costumes. Leopold Ludwig conducts the chorus of the Hamburg State Opera and the Philharmonic Hamburg State Orchestra.
A quick glance at the cast list of this film production of Die Meistersinger reveals the surprising fact that the vocal protagonists – all stars of international repute – were almost all associated with the Hamburg State Opera ensemble.
This production fascinates with its appealing classical staging, the brilliance of the whole cast and the great camera shots, which only could be realised in a studio production like this: with the result that the audience finds itself placed amidst the scene.
The role of Walter von Stolzing is here appropriately sung by Richard Cassilly, praised as “one of the great heldentenors of his generation.”