Wagner - Parsifal

[gurnemanz]

Oh no! I now have to play through not one ancient recording of 'Parsifal', but several. And I've got a pile of Brahms, Beethoven, JSB and Bartok screaming for attention. Do you people know how long 'Parsifal' is? It takes until next tax demand just to get to the end of the Prelude, and you havent even met Gurnemanz yet ... and he does go on a bit.

But the entry into the castle of the Grail at the climax of Act I is just magic. If you dont know it, pour a very large drink, put it on the CD player and relax, this is real music.

I have an odd relationship with Parsifal. I got the Knappertsbusch LPs as a student umpteen years ago and became somewhat obsessed with the opera, even meeting my own Kundry. I stood at the Proms for the Boulez version over two nights in the 70s with my little copy of the libretto in my hand - on my own because no one I knew would go with me, not even Kundry. A couple of years later I saw a concert version of it in Leipzig with René Kollo under Herbert Kegel which was terrific and to this day my only full CD version is a recording of that very performance.

I have the indispensable Karl Muck Naxos discs complete with the original bells that the Nazis melted down (http://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviews...&languageid=EN) and keep meaning to buy another full set but simply cannot decide which one, since none of them can be definitive. (I am genuinely up for a recommendation.) Despite my obsession, I'm still not quite sure what it's all about. I don't very often sit down of an evening and play it. We enjoyed the recent Gergiev performance at the Barbican.

I can't think why I decided to name myself here after a tedious old bloke who just goes on and on ......

[Mandryka]

For Parsifal, I would recommend Solti, Karajan and Kubelik, in that order.

If you are going to go for a Kna, make it the '51 mono recording: there are just too many things wrong with the stereo 'remake'.

And use the Karl Muck/Alfred Hertz excerpts as a historical supplement.

I have the Thielemann recording: it's good, but not essential, I'd say, and somewhat hobbled by an undistinguished Gurnemanz.

Not listened to the Goodall for a long time, but it does feature Waltraud Meier's first Kundry, so shoud be worth investigation.

[Beef Oven]

I see that in the 2009 PG Thielemann's was the top recommendation ahead of Karajan, Barenboim and both the Kna recordings. Has anyone heard it?

Incidentally (and I'm almost afraid to mention it ) I see that Goodall's EMI recording can be had very reasonably. Is it any good?

Steady on Parry!

The Goodall is many people's top performance (it's certainly mine) but probably not a good starting point. The Thielemann is excellent (I picked it up for £16 off Amazon, and not from the marketplace, a few years back) - Domingo is wonderful here. I also like the pacey Boulez! I have never heard the Kubelik.

[mathias broucek]

Agree with the accolades for Karajan and 1951 Kanappertsbusch (the latter v cheap on Classical Music Mobile although better transfers are available).

Has anyone heard THIS Karajan?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Parsi...6207364&sr=8-4

[Black Swan]

I have Karajan and Barenboim both are good, as mentioned there are some glitches but for me, an ardent Waltraud Meier fan, I go with Barenboim. I saw her live at the MET in New York as Kundry and have been smitten ever since.

John

[austin]

Many thanks for all your opinions. Clearly plenty to think about before I commit myself. (Cost will probably be an important factor!)

[Mandryka]

Many thanks for all your opinions. Clearly plenty to think about before I commit myself. (Cost will probably be an important factor!)

I don't think there are any recordings that I would say are BAD, but I agree with the poster above who warned against Levine's first recording, which is now only available in a multi-disc set: Peter Hoffman on his last legs vocally, the (always) very average Hans Sotin as Gurnemanz and Levine plodding in the pit.

You might also want to avoid Boulez - who is not bad and is well-served by a great cast,but whose interpretation is probably too individual to live with long term.

[Beef Oven]

Many thanks for all your opinions. Clearly plenty to think about before I commit myself. (Cost will probably be an important factor!)

In terms of cost being an important factor

Barenboim is available brand new in the Amazon market place for £12.36 including p&p!!!

I have never heard Barenboim's account, but enough people on here rate it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parsifal-Dan...6220774&sr=1-2

Also Kna's 1951 is only £13.97 direct from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parsifal-Kna...6221650&sr=1-1

And the Boulez is £15.45 incl p&p from Amazon marketplace http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Parsi...6222435&sr=1-1

Any of these would make a good starting point. There is also a Thielemann on the marketplace which is cheap, but it's from the US, so you might get hit with duty if the cost goes over £18 (duty is levied on the buying price and p&p).

[Richard Tarleton]

The Thielemann is excellent (I picked it up for £16 off Amazon, and not from the marketplace, a few years back) - Domingo is wonderful here.

Domingo was a fine live Parsifal in a concert performance in the RFH in 1997. The

tedious old bloke who just goes on and

was magnificently sung by John Tomlinson, with Deborah Polaski as Kundry. The conducor's name escapes me - he was standing in for an indisposed Horst Stein. There was an odd review in the ST by David Cairns who said you needed long arms to conduct Parsifal (this chap's weren't long enough, apparently).

BTW I have just the one recording, the Karajan.

[Beef Oven]

Domingo was a fine live Parsifal in a concert performance in the RFH in 1997. The was magnificently sung by John Tomlinson, with Deborah Polaski as Kundry. The conducor's name escapes me - he was standing in for an indisposed Horst Stein. There was an odd review in the ST by David Cairns who said you needed long arms to conduct Parsifal (this chap's weren't long enough, apparently).

BTW I have just the one recording, the Karajan.

Congratulations on keeping to one recording!!!

Thinking of Stein, I have a most enjoyable DVD on DG of the Bayreuth company with Horst Stein, Jerusalem et al.

Arms not long enough!!?