The art of making art

By Maria Gregoriou

THE Rialto theatre in Limassol will once again screen a performance from the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday, German composer Richard Wagner’s epic comedy The Mastersinger of Nuremberg.

The opera takes place in Nuremberg during the middle of the 16th century when it was a free imperial city and builds its storyline around a real-life association of amateur poets and musicians named Meistersinger.

The association developed an approach to the art of making music, which involves an intricate system of rules for composing and performing songs. They used this approach to enter a song contest and prove that music can really perform miracles.

Conductor James Levine will be leading the musicians and together with an international cast, will bring the opera back to the MET after an eight year absence.

The two act opera is the longest opera still commonly performed today, it normally takes just over four hours but this performance lasts for six hours. So get some popcorn and something to drink, and get ready for a long night at the theatre.

The Mastersinger of Nuremberg – The MET: Live
Performance of Richard Wagner’s comedy broadcasted from the MET. December 13. Rialto theatre, Limassol. 7pm. €18/13. Tel: 77-777745