The wonderful studio recording was Sir Georg’s last of this Wagner masterpiece – and with Van Dam, Heppner and Mattila how can you go wrong? You can’t. (repeats on Saturday at 6 pm).

Richard Wagner – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Performer: José Van Dam (Bass Baritone), René Pape (Bass), Ben Heppner (Tenor), Alan Opie (Baritone), Karita Mattila (Soprano), Herbert Lippert (Tenor), Iris Vermillion (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor: Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus
Release Date: 02/11/2003
Label: Decca Catalog #: 470800 Spars Code: DDD

*VOX is on XM Satellite radio available for online listening by subscription.