Cast & Characters

The Cast

Eva: Hei-Kyung Hong
Magdalene: Maria Zifchak
Walther von Stolzing: Johan Botha
David: Matthew Polenzani
Hans Sachs: James Morris
Beckmesser: Hans-Joachim Ketelsen
Pogner: Evgeny Nikitin
Night Watchman: John Relyea
Conductor: James Levine

The Characters

Eva Pogner - (soprano) Daughter of Pogner, a goldsmith. She is in love with Walther von Stolzing, but her father has promised her hand in marriage to whomever wins the mastersinger contest.

Magdalene - (mezzo-soprano) Eva's young housekeeper and David's girlfriend. She helps shield Eva from Beckmesser's unwanted attention.

Walther von Stolzing - (tenor) A young knight who is smitten with Eva Pogner. A gifted poet and composer, he tries to become a mastersinger, but his first attempt is denied when he breaks too many composing rules. He is befriended and aided by Hans Sachs.

Hans Sachs - (baritone) A middle-aged widower, Sachs works as a cobbler and also belongs to the mastersinger guild. He defends Eva's right to choose her husband and Walther's efforts at song composition, and is instrumental in solving their problems.

David - (tenor) David is apprenticed to Sachs, learning about both the cobbler trade and singing. He is Magdalene's sweetheart, and starts a street brawl when he thinks Beckmesser has been flirting with her.

Sixtus Beckmesser - (baritone) The town clerk and a jealous, curmudgeonly man. Beckmesser serves as the "Marker"for Walther's audition (keeping track of his mistakes), but often has trouble composing himself. He tries to win over Eva by serenading her, not realizing that it is actually Magdalene in disguise.