Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg [2 Discs]

Composer Richard Wagner made a name for himself by authoring epic-length operas, and his 1868 +Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg is no exception, typically checking in at around 4 1/2 hours. The comedic work, which takes place in 16th Century Nuremburg, showcases the attempts of two competing Meistersingers (or amateur musicians and poets) to woo and win the hand of the fetching Eva, the town goldsmith's daughter. The Wiener Staatsoper mounted this particular production of the opera in 2008. It stars Falk Struckmann as Hans Sachs, Ain Anger as Veit Pogner, Adrian Er?d as Sixtus Beckmesser and Ricarda Merbeth as Eva. Wolfgang Gr?ller and Lukas Gaudernak did the choreography; the Chorus of the Wiener Staatsoper and the Orchester und Buchorchester der Wiener Staatsoper provide musical accompaniment. Christian Thielemann conducts.