('The Mastersingers')
Relayed from The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
It is the morning of the Festival of St. John. Sachs is seated reading. He talks a little with David, his apprentice, and falls into meditation, voicing his thoughts in the famous monologue, 'Mad, mad, all the world's mad'. Walther, his guest, now enters and tells Sachs of a song that came to him in his dream. Sachs notes it down and comments upon it; they go out, leaving the song on the table and Beckmesser enters the room. He is Walther's rival in the song contest and for the hand of Eva, and seeing the song, concludes it is by Sachs and carries it off.
Sachs returning, is visited by Eva, who pretends that one of her shoes needs attention, but who really hopes to see Walther, and is rewarded by his appearance. David and Magdalena now enter, and the scene concludes with the singing of the glorious quintet, one of the most lovely passages in all opera.
The next scene is the meadow prepared for the Song Contest. The Guilds, with banners flying, arrive one after another, followed by the dignified entry of the Mastersingers. After a chorus in praise of Sachs, the Contest begins. Beckmesser sings first, and not understanding the song he has stolen makes it sound ridiculous. He is derided by the people. Walther now sings the song as it should be sung, and wins his right to election in the Guild and the hand of Eva. The act comes to an end with Sachs's impassioned defence of German Art and the Mastersingers, followed by a chorus of the assembled multitude singing in homage of Sachs.