Melbourne Opera presents Richard Wagner’s epic comedy masterpiece Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Billed as the opera event of 2025, Melbourne Opera’s multi-million dollar production of Die Meister singer von Nürnberg will see opera lovers converge in Melbourne from 16–22 February.

Audiences will experience a 4.5-hour production of Wagner’s epic – and only – comedy, with multiple intervals across the afternoon and evening. Themed catering will be available.

Staged at the resplendent world heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, the production comes from Suzanne Chaundy, the visionary director behind the groundbreaking, internationally acclaimed Ring Cycle Cultural Festival in 2023.

International Wagner expert Anthony Negus returns once again to conduct, marking seven years collaborating with Suzanne Chaundy on Wagner operas.

The production features an all Australian cast and will employ over 200 performers, musicians, and creatives. With a nod to Shakespeare’s Globe, Andrew Bailey’s (The Ring Cycle) set design enhances the architectural splendour of the world heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, with tiered seating for 1200 people.

Suzanne:

Our Meistersinger will be an event: not at all like a normal night at the opera. It will unfold over its many hours and spacious intervals in Melbourne’s iconic and UNESCO World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building. We are effectively building a theatre space within the Exhibition Building with a raised stage, orchestra pit and tiered seating  bank, whilst making the venue a production ‘hero.

This is a comedy about ordinary people and humans exercising control over their fates. Unlike most Wagner operas, it is not mythical in any way. However, there is a storybook aspect to Wagner’s depiction of the idealized Nuremberg of yore, and this will be reflected in our design.

Our chorus will be reminiscent of the world of Bruegel the Elder as a reference point and famous Nuremberg artist Albrecht Durer. The production will be full of life, colour and character. My trademark is, as always, striving for detail with a fresh and truthful reading

In our current age of dehumanization, this production will be proudly and profoundly human. It will have a huge life force and energy behind it. I want to bring forward the humour and joy alongside the serious aspects of respect for traditional art forms. Art can innovate and remain true to its roots. Innovation breathes new life into tradition. It is Wagner’s life story.

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg features an international Australian cast led by bass baritone Warwick Fyfe. Warwick is a leading exponent of the Wagnerian repertoire, who won widespread acclaim as Wotan in The Ring Cycle. He is beyond thrilled to be making his debut in the demanding lead role of Hans Sachs, after performing several other roles in Wagner’s comedy throughout his illustrious career.

Meistersinger is a miracle of complex engineering and Sachs is the largest cog. There is nothing arbitrary. It is like a Brueghel painting in that the closer you look, the more you see. Sachs is also reputed to be the longest role in the standard repertoire. However, one sets out from its foothills to conquer it, not just because it is there, but because it is one of the highest and most sublime peaks of Western Art.

Many of Australia’s greatest opera singers join Warwick in this production. Tenor James Egglestone (Siegmund and Loge in The Ring Cycle) takes on the role of Walther von Stolzing, while Christopher Hillier (Gunther in The Ring Cycle) plays Sixtus Beckmesser.

The divinely talented Lee Abrahmsen (Sieglinde and Fricka in The Ring Cycle) plays Pogner’s daughter  Eva, while the accomplished Robert Macfarlane (Mime in The Ring Cycle) plays Sach’s apprentice, David.

Mezzo-soprano Deborah Humble (Erda and Waltraute in The Ring Cycle) plays Eva’s companion, Magdalene, while Steven Gallop (Fafner in The Ring Cycle) plays the Pogner.

Melbourne Opera, which receives no government funding, stages multiple full-scale productions each year on Melbourne’s main stages. The company gives many young singers and musicians invaluable professional experience at the outset of their careers in the company of distinguished experienced artists.

As well as mainstream repertoire, the company also presents many lesser-known masterpieces. Reviews for Melbourne Opera’s Ring Cycle, directed by Suzanne Chaundy, conducted by Anthony Negus and starring Warwick Fyfe .

The two pillars of this Ring were Negus and Chaundy. Together they fused what we heard and saw into something compelling and memorable with performances at a consistently high level – a magnificent achievement.

Season Details

Venue: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Date: 16 – 22 Feb 2025

For more information click HERE