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In September 1995, Sir Georg Solti led three concert performances of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Orchestra Hall. The performances were split: the first two acts on one concert and the third act on a separate concert over the course of two open dress rehearsals and four concerts.

Pictured here at a rehearsal, Solti discusses the score with Joseph Golan, a member of the Orchestra since 1953 and principal second violin since 1969. Tenor Herbert Lippert looks on.

The cast included Karita Mattila, Iris Vermillion, José van Dam, Alan Opie, René Pape, Ben Heppner, and Herbert Lippert, and the Chicago Symphony Chorus (prepared by Duain Wolfe).

For London Records, the recording was produced by Michael Woolcock; James Lock, John Pellowe, and Neil Hutchinson were the balance engineers; and Krzysztof Jarosz was the location engineer.

The recording won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.

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