<<  -- 6 --  Sissy von Kotzebue    THE BIG BIRDCAGE

In the brochure one can find a foreword by Sir Peter Jonas. Under the headline 'Siemens und Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg', Sir Peter tells us that the firm and the Munich Opera House have so much in common: both link tradition with innovation. Nothing against sponsoring, but is it a must that the workshop of Hans Sachs looks like the headquarters of the sponsor? Perhaps we will soon see Lohengrin driving about in a swan-white BMW?

But to shorten the suffering of all opera traditionalists, there is something that makes all the torture fade -- the music. Zubin Mehta and his orchestra get applause between the acts. The musical quality of the performance is so overwhelming that even non-Wagnerians become enthusiastic. On behalf of the singers, a song of praise needs to be sung. First of all, for Robert Dean Smith as Stoltzing. Moving like a twenty-something, he achieves that one falls in love with this courageous and gifted man despite the foolish costume. Jan-Hendrik Rootering, able to darken the big St John's fire with his enormous volume, does not really join into the questionable sense of humour of the director and concentrates, rather, on the music that he performs with his impressive voice. Last not least, there is Eike Wilm Schulte as Beckmesser. He is a high-class comedian who can sing to top it off. The really funny moments of this performance we owe to Schulte who gave his vote for the Meistersinger with the aid of a laptop spilling forth an endless printout.

'Meistersinger has a very long tradition in Munich, since the work was written for the house and was also premièred here,' says first violinist Felix Gargerle who now plays the opera in his eleventh year with the company. 'It is one of our best pieces because it is in our genes. The tradition of how the work is to be played is handed down from generation to generation of musicians.'

Not surprisingly, Sir Peter Jonas is very content when he holds a little speech at the after-show-party. He saw every event during the festival -- much appreciated by his staff. To conclude: The festival seemed like a big birdcage with more or less coloured singing-birds flying in and out, but we loved every note.