"There is something undeniably stirring about hearing the opening C-major chords of the Meistersinger overture echoing through the Mile End Road. One might expect the 'Grand Opera' experience to be diminished by the lack of velvet and gilt, but in the People's Palace, the music seemed to shed its museum-like quality and regain its civic pulse. Michael Bauer brought a warm, human authority to the role of Hans Sachs—not a mythical figure, but a recognizable man of the people. Under Stuart Ellam’s steady baton, the massive architectural demands of the score were handled with a boisterous, festive sincerity that bypassed the usual pretension of the opera house."

"A remarkable achievement for the debut of East End Opera. John Ramsden’s production was clear and unpretentious, wisely focusing on the human drama of the guilds. It was a production that trusted both the performers and the audience. Kate Rawstron’s Eva was sung with a bright, lyrical freshness, while Stephen Williams provided a Beckmesser that was sharp and well-characterized. Stuart Ellam proved that with a committed ensemble, Wagner can indeed travel east of Aldgate."