Opera Guide and Synopsis: Richard Wagner's Die Meistersinger

Richard Wagner began work on his opera Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg) in 1845. The libretto went through many drafts and was not completed until 1862, while the opera did not premiere until June 21, 1868 in Munich. Die Meistersinger is Wagner's only comedy, but it is also filled with drama, romance, and a historical portrait of the German Mastersingers of the Medieval era.

Characters in Die Meistersinger

• Hans Sachs, a cobbler (Baritone)
• Walther von Stolzing, a knight (Tenor)
• Veit Pogner, a goldsmith (Bass)
• Eva, his daughter (Soprano)
• Magdalena, her nurse (Mezzo-soprano or contralto)
• David, her lover and Sach's apprentice(Tenor)
• Sixtus Beckmesser, a clerk (Baritone)

Synopsis of Die Meistersinger

The story takes place in the town of Nuremberg during the sixteenth century.

Act I

Eva and Walther meet at St. Catherine's Church, and it is love at first sight. Magdalena explains that Eva has been promised to the winner of the singing competition on St. John's Day, but Eva declares that she will choose Walther regardless. Magdalena takes Eva home.

David sets up for the Mastersingers' meeting and gives Walther singing advice. Walther decides to enter the contest, despite his inexperience. The Mastersingers enter. Walther reveals his intentions and says that he learned from the long-dead Minnisinger Walther von der Vogelweide.

He sings his first song, and Beckmesser, who seeks Eva's hand, marks many errors. Walther is declared "outsung" despite Hans Sachs's objections.

Act II

David and the other apprentices sing of Midsummer Day. Magdalena hears from David that Walther has not fared well. Pogner and Eva arrive. Eva confides in Sachs her love for Walther. Walther arrives, and the lovers hide in the shadows.

Beckmesser arrives with his lute to serenade Eva, but Sachs interrupts his tune by noisily cobbling Beckmesser's new shoes, hammering for each error. David discovers Beckmesser and thinks he is singing to Magdalena. A riot breaks out, but is broken up by the night watchman's horn.

Act III

Sachs sits in his house reading. David enters to congratulate him about his saint's day (St. John's Day, Hans being short for Johannes). Sachs muses about Nuremberg.

Walther tells Sachs about his dream. He uses this as the inspiration to write a new song, which Sachs writes down. They exit. Beckmesser finds the song and, believing Sachs wrote it, takes it for himself. Sachs tells Beckmesser that he is not competing and allows him to keep the song.

When Walther sees Eva, he is inspired to write the song's final verse. Eva asks Sachs to win the competition and marry her should Walther fail, but Sachs refuses to be as King Marke was to Tristan and Isolde. Sachs makes David a Master, and they head for the competition.

Beckmesser tries to compete with the stolen song, but butchers it and is laughed at. He blames Sachs for tricking him, but Sachs reveals that Walther was the song's writer. Walther sings for the Masters and they award him the prize and Eva's hand. Eva takes Walther's prize laurel and offers it to Sachs. They all praise the merits of German poetry and the German spirit.

Sources

Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goers' Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.

Newman, Ernest. Stories of the Great Operas and Their Composers. Garden City: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 1930.