Richard Wagner has repeatedly expressly described only one of his operas as his "masterpiece": his "Meistersinger von Nürnberg". From the first creative thoughts to their completion, the great poet composer has worked with the material for almost three decades. Between his early recordings in 1845 and his completion in 1867 lies the creation of most of his other important works, including the opera "Tristan und Isolde".

That Wagner did not take up this "Volksoper" again until the 1960s to com...