Wagner was further represented by Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (April 6), in beautiful and credible sets from the 1940s by Josep Mestres Cabanes who, at the age of 91, attended the performance, and an exhibition of whose once-familiar designs was on show at the Liceu during the rest of the season. Bernd Weikl was the warm and engaging Sachs, Hermann Prey the older-sounding but masterfully different Beckmesser in his belated house debut. Sue Patchell was a convincing, strong-voiced Eva, and Marga Schiml a bright Magdalene, but Paul Frey was an unsteady Walther and Ulrich Ress only an adequate David. Uwe Mund conducted with loving care for orchestral detail, and the chorus also shared in the overall success.

ROGER ALIER | October 1989