CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA
| Hans Sachs, shoemaker | } | Mastersingers. |
| Veit Pogner, goldsmith | } | |
| Kunz Vogelgesang, furrier | } | |
| Konrad Nachtigal, tinsmith | } | |
| Sixtus Beckmesser, town clerk | } | |
| Fritz Kothner, baker | } | |
| Balthasar Zorn, pewterer | } | |
| Ulrich Eisslinger, grocer | } | |
| Augustin Moser, tailor | } | |
| Hermann Ortel, soap boiler | } | |
| Hans Schwarz, stocking weaver | } | |
| Hans Foltz, coppersmith | } |
Walther von Stolzing, a young knight from Franconia.
David, Sachs's apprentice.
Eva, Pogner's daughter.
Magdalene, Eva's nurse.
Night Watchman.
Burghers, women of all guilds, journeymen, apprentices, girls, and people.
The action takes place in Nuremberg about the middle of the sixteenth century.
Composer: Richard Wagner.
ACT I
Four hundred years ago in Nuremberg there was a great rivalry among the townsmen, as to who was the best singer. Indeed, in the history of this great yearly competition, some had become so noted for their excellence, that in a spirit of fairness they had almost ceased to compete. There were twelve Mastersingers, and this number was to be added to by future competitions. Among those who had removed themselves from the contest (because his previous successes made it unfair that he should continue) was Hans Sachs, the cobbler. Hans was beloved by all, and had a spirit as well as a genius above his fellows.
The prize for which the singers contended had hitherto been a sum of money, given by the rich man of the city, one Veit Pogner, a goldsmith, but upon the occasion we are about to describe he had decided to make the prize far more precious. He agreed to give his daughter Eva in marriage to the best singer, provided she could love him; and if she could not love him, she was to live unmarried for the rest of her days.
On the morning of the preliminary trial, when those qualified to enter the real competition were to be chosen, the good folk of Nuremberg were assembled in the church, singing the last hymn. Eva and her nurse, Magdalene, were there and also the knight, Walther von Stolzing, a newcomer in Nuremberg, greatly in love with Eva. She, too, loved him, but it would have displeased her father had she been seen speaking with the handsome stranger.