Wagner Opera Die Meistersinger
Plot Synopsis and Character Description of German Comic Drama
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Master Singers of Nuremberg) is a three-act comic opera composed by Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883). Libretto by Wagner himself, an original work with historical personages. It was first performed in Munich, Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater, June 21, 1868. Setting is in Nuremberg in the 16th century.
Notable arias: "Am stillen Herd" (Walter), "Jerum! Jerum!" (Hans Sachs), "Morgenlich Leuchtend"/ Prize song (Walter).
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is Richard Wagner's only work that deals with real people and also involving comedy. In its finest German tradition, it is humane with a tender spirit.
Characters / Roles
- Walter von Stolzing, A knight from Franconia (tenor)
- Veit Pogner, A goldsmith (bass)
- Eva, Pogner's daughter (soprano)
- Magdalena, Eva's companion (mezzo or soprano)
- Hans Sachs, A cobbler (bass or bass baritone)
- David, Sachs's apprentice (tenor)
- Fritz Kothner, A baker (bass or bass baritone)
- Sixtus Beckmesser, The town clerk (bass or bass baritone)
Plot Summary / Synopsis
Overture.
Act I
Inside Saint Catherine's Church.
Scene 1. A young knight, Walter, sees the goldsmith's daughter, Eva, in church and learns she is to marry whoever wins the master singing competition. Smitten by her, he decides to compete. Eva and her nurse, Magdalena, turn him over to David, apprentice to the cobbler, and song master Hans Sachs.
Scene 2. David instructs Walter what one must learn to become a master singer.
Scene 3. Beckmesser asks Pogner to intercede on his behalf with Eva. Pogner says that although Eva may refuse the winner of the singing competition, she must still wed a master singer. Hans Sachs suggests that the people and not the master singers should judge the competition. His suggestion was rejected. Pogner proposes Walter for the master singers' guild and Walter performs a trial song while Beckmesser focuses on his compositional and technical mistakes. In a way, Walter's violations of the guild rules disqualify him, but Sachs insists they should hear Walter's song to the end.
Act II
A Street in Nuremberg
Scene 1. Magdalena learns of Walter's defeat from David.
Scene 2. Eva is distraught about it.
Scene 3. Sachs remembers Walter's song.
Scene 4. Eva approaches Sachs with the hope that Sachs saves her from Backmesser. Her questions about Walter reveals to Sachs that she loves Walter. Beckmesser sends a message to Eva that he means to serenade her. Eva decides to send Magdalena in her place.
Scene 5. Walter asks Eva to elope with him, but Sachs moves his work into the street where he can keep an eye on the lovers so they don't make a wrong decision.
Scene 6. To annoy Beckmesser who is trying to serenade Eva, Sachs sings. David recognizes his beloved Magdalena at the window and attacks Beckmesser. A riot breaks out.
Prelude.
Act III
Scene 1. Sachs Workshop. David brings food, sausages and cake for Hans Sachs on his name day. Sachs contemplates the riot of the night before. When Walter recounts a dream he had, Sachs helps him shape the dream into a prize song. But after the two men retire to dress for the festivities, Beckmesser discovers Walter's poem and pockets it, thinking it is Sachs who wrote it. Discovering the theft, Sachs makes Beckmesser a present of the song, assuring him that he himself will not sing it. Eva arrives, complaining that something's wrong with her shoes. Although Sachs knows better, he pretends to fix them and takes the opportunity to tell Eva he will not compete for her hand.
Scene 2. A Meadow Outside Nuremberg. Each guild praises its own craft. The master singers arrive and Sachs sings for the crowd. When Beckmessers's prize song is a failure, he blames Walter's poem. Sachs defends the poem and presents a witness to back him up: who but Walter, the owner of the song. He sings his song to general acclaim. Walter wins Eva and Sachs reminds the people to honor the German masters.
Sources:
Martin, Nicholas Ivor. The Da Capo Opera Manual. New York: Da Capo Press, 1997
Morley, (Sir) Alexander F. The Harrap Opera Guide. London: Harrap, 1970
Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Act III
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