Sir Antonio Pappano, 'Die Meistersinger' conductor, Interview, Nov. 8, 2021

Interview, Nov. 8, 2021, with Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor of the Met revival of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Moderator: Fred Cohn. Presented by the Wagner Society of New York.
Thank you for visiting! Please note that these events require a substantial commitment of time and financial resources. WSNY welcomes online donations at: wagnersocietyny.org/donate. Your support of the Wagner Society of New York, a 501(c)(3) organization, will enable us to continue to produce high-quality programs and support promising young singers.
Wagner Society of New York, www.wagnersocietyny.org

[@wotan10950]

For me, it’s ironic that I revere almost all of the other Wagner operas, some more, some less. But I’ve never cottoned onto Meistersinger, despite seeing it onstage a few times. It’s the same feeling I get about Verdi and Falstaff, and Puccini and Turandot - I just don’t get the message. Maybe when I get older - oops, I’m already older!

[@pwillems007]

It took me 20 years to understand Meistersinger. I worked on it by reading the libretto and a book. Then suddenly, 10 years ago, it clicked, and I realized this marvelous work is more complex than one might think. Its polyphony is splendid, the story is poignant with Hans Sachs's renunciation. Since then, it has become one of my favorite Wagner operas.
I am not alone. It took the great James Morris also 20 years to understand it. You should persist by working on it.

[@mikewang2755]

Few conductors can better explain the deepest insights of an opera like Pappano does. The other one I can think of is Mark Elder as I went to SF Opera to see his Meistersinger in 2015.

[@tommot7755]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!

[@ValzainLumivix]

Nice