Presented by Melbourne Opera, one of Australia’s most spectacular opera events in 2025 comes to Melbourne’s world-heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building this week, with four performances of Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
The production comes from Suzanne Chaundy, the visionary director behind the ground-breaking, 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.
“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,” says Chaundy.
“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’. 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,” says Chaundy.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg will include over 200 performers, musicians and creatives and features an all Australian cast led by bass baritone Warwick Fyfe, a leading exponent of the Wagnerian repertoire, who won widespread acclaim as Wotan in The Ring Cycle.
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.
With a nod to Shakespeare’s Globe, Andrew Bailey’s (The Ring Cycle) set design enhances the architectural splendour of the Royal Exhibition Building, with tiered seating for 1200 people.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Season: 16 – 22 February 2025
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au
For more information, visit: www.melbourneopera.com for details.
Image: Richard Wagner, 1813-1883 (sourced)