Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

The Telegraph“Pappano makes this music sparkle and dance...” It seems more like something out of a kiddies’ picture book than a wisely mature disquisition on art’s place in society and the balance between tradition and inspiration which the artist must negotiate...

The Independent“The high-end casting in this revival brought us an incomparable David...” Graham Vick's thoughtful and much-admired staging of Die Meistersinger retains a dream-like quality where we the audience can be a part of the midsummer madness...

MusicOMH“Excellent performances [are] on offer...” It is packed with humanity and humour, and Graham Vick’s 1993 production for the Royal Opera House, revived here by Elaine Kidd, brings out every ounce of both...

Financial Times“The show has a handful of feel-good moments...” Sends us out on a high, as if sensing the balm of a midsummer carnival in a midwinter recession. It’s too little, too late. The Royal Opera has tried hard to reheat its Meistersinger, but the flavour has long gone...

The Stage“Remains one of the director’s finest achievements...” The heroes of the evening are the Royal Opera Orchestra and Chorus, both on world-beating form, and music director Antonio Pappano, whose spacious reading has a richness and momentum that carry all before them...

this is london“The central performances are underwhelming...” Those aware of the dark side of Wagner's supremacist conception of nationhood will despair that no British director has had the courage to tackle the issues raised by the work...

Guardian“The best of it is hugely enjoyable...” It's wonderfully conducted by Antonio Pappano, in what is easily his finest Wagner interpretation to date. The sweep, energy and passion of it all are immensely persuasive...

The Arts Desk“A cosy, almost cartoonish vision...” Only folk determined on seasonal jollity to the exclusion of all else might not feel a certain want of the darker side to the human predicament which ought to pave the way to comic reconciliation.