THE WORK Cincinnati Opera begins its 90th season on the grandest scale possible ­with Richard Wagner’s singular humane comedy, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Far from the weighty wars between immortals seen in his other works, Die Meistersinger is a very human, and very touching, romance between two young lovers. It’s a love story, but also an encomium for living the self-actualized life of an upstanding citizen.

Due to its magnificent scope, this five-hour opera is rarely performed in the United States. Cincinnati Opera’s production is already being hailed as an international event–calls for tickets are pouring in from across the country and around the world!

THE STORY Walther, a young knight, falls in love with Eva, but she is to be betrothed to the winner of a singing contest. The plot follows his attempts to win the contest with the wise help of the cobbler and poet Hans Sachs.

THE CAST Cincinnati Opera is proud to present the internationally renowned Wagnerian specialist James Johnson as Hans Sachs, fresh from performances in the role at the Berlin State Opera. Rising-star soprano Twyla Robinson sings Eva, and American tenor John Horton Murray will make his Cincinnati Opera debut as Walther von Stolzing, a role he has sung at the Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. German baritone Hans-Joachim Ketelsen makes his company debut as Sixtus Beckmesser, a role which he has sung at a number of esteemed opera houses, with repeated appearances at the Metropolitan Opera as well as at Hamburg State Opera and Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden in Germany. Metropolitan Opera conductor John Keenan leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with direction by Chris Alexander.

See the full cast & creative team

READ Noted Cincinnati Opera historian Charles Parsons shares anecdotes about Wagner in Cincinnati. The synopsis is also available for your perusing pleasure.