BaL 20.06.15 - Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

[verismissimo]

I also attended this performance and recall the ripple of excitement in the auditorium when Lord Harewood announced that Lois McDonall was indisposed but he'd managed to persuade the ROH management, where Lucia Popp had been rehearsing 'up the road', to release the soprano at short notice to sing the role of Ilia, albeit in Italian. Not only a feast of glorious singing which brought the house down - and the building next door - at her curtain call. There was obviously minimal time for rehearsal and Rita Hunter, Elettra, indicated the stage moves to Ms Popp in their scenes together which added a fascinating piquancy to the occasion. Indeed, memorable.

Terrific story, Stanley. Thanks!

[slarty]

This is a great idea for a thread. last minute cast/artist changes.

[Stanley Stewart]

A further memory of so many productions of Die Meistersinger over the decades. A staging at ROH in the 80s with Hans Sotin as Sachs and Lucia Popp as Eva, Colin Davis conducting. Act 3 was well underway when Sotin's voice cracked badly and the impetus could be felt in the auditorium as he gradually regained his confidence. Lucia Popp was seated and when Sotin drew near her, she reached out and took his hand for a moment, a generous psychological gesture from one artist to another which also managed to release the tension in the house. These 'moments' are never forgotten.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Just for the record, there were 189 posts on the BBC Messageboards when this was reviewed in 2009.