“Thank goodness for no quirky ideas…The singers are all outstanding, led by James Morris’s warmly genial Sachs…and by Ben Heppner, who is an equally convincing Walther…Mattila not only looks gorgeous but sings ravishingly as Eva, while Sir Thomas Allen’s characterisation of Beckmesser is all his own…Levine’s conducting holds the performance together richly” Penguing Guide to Recorded Classical Music

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

James Morris (Hans Sachs), Ben Heppner (Walther von Stolzing), Karita Mattila (Eva), Thomas Allen (Beckmesser), Jill Grove (Magdalena), Matthew Polenzani (David), René Pape (Pogner), John Relyea (Nachtwächter)

Metropolitan Opera & Chorus, James Levine

DVD