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Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:20 pm
by mcq
Jose Echenique wrote:mcq wrote:The Barenboim version was recently released belatedly on DVD and I do intend to purchase it as soon as possible. Jerusalem was always one of the most charismatic Heldentenors and his Siegfried for Barenboim was very special. I do own Horst Stein's very fine version of Parsifal from Bayreuth on DVD with Jerusalem in the title role. He really does seem to bring a kind of childlike innocence to the role. Meier appears as Kundry in Nagano's version on DVD and she is an extremely powerful and vivid presence, which is just what you want with this extraordinary creation of Wagner's (indeed, in the operatic repertoire, only Debussy's Melisande comes close as a depiction of a wild and ultimately unknowable character - completely different repertoire, I know, but both characters are primal forces of nature, apparently beyond human understanding).
By the way, Jose, have you heard Marek Janowski's Parsifal on Pentatone? All of his Wagner recordings have been very well reviewed in recent years. I'm also curious about Simone Young's and Sebastian Weigle's Ring cycles on Oehms. Have you heard anything from their respective cycles?
I only bought the Janowski Flying Dutchman and the Lohengrin, and I was mighty disappointed with the Lohengrin, it´s just not very good. I had high hopes for it because I really like Klaus Florian Vogt, who next to Jonas Kaufmann are my current favourite Wagner tenors. Vogt sings very well, but everything else, including the conducting are not that good. Even the sound is not totally satisfactory, but so far I have heard good things of the Parsifal and the Tristan, maybe I´ll investigate them in the future.
I didn´t invest in the Simone Young Ring, but I did buy the Sebastian Weigle. Die Walküre is amazing, especially the white hot First Act with real husband and wife as the Völsung twins. The Frankfurt orchestra is very good, and the fact that it was recorded live in a relatively small theatre helps the singers a lot. Having said that, the other 3 operas are not as successful. Certainly a better Siegfried was needed, and the Brünnhilde is also found wanting in Götterdämmerung and in the awakening duet in Siegfried. I can only recommend Die Walküre, but if you decide to invest on it be warned that the other 3 are nowhere as enjoyable.
Another off main street Parsifal that I enjoyed a lot is Jaap van Zweden´s in the Challenge Classics label. There you can also hear Klaus Florian Vogt in the title role, his voice is rare, at first it sounds like a very lyrical instrument maybe not fit for Wagner, but when power is needed he somehow founds it and delivers the goods. The Kundry is also excellent, Katarina Dalayman, who made such a good impression in the Hallé Götterdämmerung. The Gurnemaz is Robert Holl, a former Bach specialist, and even though he was disappointing in Baremboim´s Meistersinger, here he is just fine. But best of all is the superb playing of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, an excellent orchestra, and van Zweden conducts a sure and expert performance. This Parsifal may not be in the Karajan or Knapertsbusch class, but it´s very, very good.
Many thanks for your thoughts, Jose. I have heard that the Young and Weigle cycles are very well conducted but the singers are of variable quality. You mention Klaus Florian Vogt; I have an excellent DVD of Lohengrin (conducted by Kent Nagano) with Vogt in the title role and he is indeed wonderful - there is something of the purity of Jess Thomas about the way he approaches this character. I have been very curious about his portrayal of Walther in Die Meistersinger (under Weigle at Bayreuth). The excellent Michael Volle also appears in this production as Beckmesser. Volle gave a warmly sympathetic performance of this character at Zurich under Franz Welser-Most (a production which also boasts Jose van Dam's sage Hans Sachs). Too often, this character is relegated to a mere stereotype but there is much more to it than that.
You also mention Jonas Kaufmann. I'm looking forward to acquiring his new Wagner recital with Donald Runnicles. I haven't heard his Lohengrin under Nagano nor his recent Siegmund under Levine. I think his performance of Florestan in Fidelio is unmatched (I have both a DVD of the Zurich production under Harnoncourt as well as Abbado's recording on DG) by any other tenor I have heard (except, of course, for Jon Vickers). I'm very curious about his performance in Humperdinck's Konigskinder (under Metzmacher at Zurich) which was released as a Decca DVD. However, I wish he would devote some more time to lieder. His performances of lieder by Richard Strauss (for Harmonia Mundi) as well as Schubert's Die Schone Mullerin are exceptional, in my view. But the man's still young and there's plenty of time.
I must investigate the new Parsifal on Challenge Classics, if only for Vogt. I'm also tempted by this label's recent recording of Richard Strauss's Elektra under Marc Albrecht.
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:41 pm
by mcq
fergus wrote:mcq wrote:Look out for Gergiev's recent version on the Marinsky label, Fergus. It is a truly exceptional reading of this most spiritual of Wagner's works. Gergiev is not a noted Wagner interpreter by any means but this is a complete success. He takes things very slowly, lingering and caressing each phrase.
Thank you for your comments and suggestions Paul; they are much appreciated. I know very little of Wagner and his music but I must admit that Gergiev would not be a name that would come to mind when I would think of Wagner. I can see by your comments why his interpretation would sound very appropriate for this music. I also take Pepe's point that the different approach particularly in the brass could be very effective.
Among other versions, do not discount Solti's version. There is more beauty in Karajan's conducting but it is always worthwhile listening to Solti for the passion and drama he can bring to the proceedings.
Duly noted and he was in my mind as I have his Ring and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Take your time with Parsifal, Fergus. It is an immensely rich musical score and it also boasts probably the best libretto of all of Wagner's operas. It is also the most succinct of all his librettos. It speaks so profoundly, in my view, about human weakness, suffering, the emptiness and spiritual hollowness of hatred, but, above all, compassion as a means of rising above our transitory existence. Although I personally favour Knappertsbusch's reading, there are many insights to be gleaned from listening to Karajan, Solti and Gergiev as well.
It is also worthwhile considering a performance on DVD. Haitink (DG) and Nagano (Opus Arte) come highly recommended, but the recently released Barenboim (Euroarts) may well be the best option. This performance is considered by many to be one of the great ones.
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:36 pm
by Jose Echenique
<You also mention Jonas Kaufmann. I'm looking forward to acquiring his new Wagner recital with Donald Runnicles. I haven't heard his Lohengrin under Nagano nor his recent Siegmund under Levine. I think his performance of Florestan in Fidelio is unmatched (I have both a DVD of the Zurich production under Harnoncourt as well as Abbado's recording on DG) by any other tenor I have heard (except, of course, for Jon Vickers). I'm very curious about his performance in Humperdinck's Konigskinder (under Metzmacher at Zurich) which was released as a Decca DVD. >
Just last sunday I was watching the Kaufmann Lohengrin while the rest of my family was immersed in the Super Bowl. I commented it with our dear friend Fergus by e-mail. The singing is to die for, especially Kaufmann´s and Anja Harteros as Elsa. The conducting is superb too, as is the wonderful Bayerischer Staatsorchester, the Munich Opera orchestra. Unfortunately the production is rather silly: Lohengrin is portrayed as a construction worker, carrying bricks, etc.
I guess this is supposed to mean that Elsa and Lohengrin are building a country, fair enough, but watching them carrying brick after brick gets really tedious. Still, for the musical performance, it´s a must have.
Klaus Florian Vogt has 2 Lohengrins on dvd, one from Bayreuth and Andris Nelsons conducting and another from Berlin with Kent Nagano conducting. Both productions are rather strange, but in general the Nagano is better.
Kaufmann was marvelous in the MET Walküre opposite Eva-Maria Westbroeck (who also sings Sieglinde in the Oehms rrecording), I can´t wait for the Gergiev recording.
Another very good Lohengrin on cd is the Semyon Bychkov in the PROFIL label. It´s much better conducted and recorded than the Janowski, and it has spectacular choral work. Pity that the South African tenor John Botha was chosen as Lohengrin. His voice sounds very large, but he is a dull singer. How I wish Kaufmann or Vogt had been chosen instead.
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:41 pm
by fergus
I have now purchased the von Karajan/Berlin Philharmoniker version of Parsifal and I have listened to it over the last few days. It is indeed another wonderful version of this magnificent work.
I am really very taken with this opera; it has been a real revelation for me.
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:45 pm
by Jared
http://www.imccinemas.ie/film.asp?idfilm=1902
Fergus, do you fancy seeing Kaufmann on the big screen, next week?
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:34 pm
by Jose Echenique
fergus wrote:I have now purchased the von Karajan/Berlin Philharmoniker version of Parsifal and I have listened to it over the last few days. It is indeed another wonderful version of this magnificent work.
I am really very taken with this opera; it has been a real revelation for me.
It is a different experience from the Kna dear Fergus, but it´s equally uplifting. For this of all operas the absence of coughs and theatre noises is a plus, especially in the prelude to the first act, where the BPO plays like no other orchestra in the World. Karajan also benefits from the Gurnemaz of Kurt Moll who sounds like a human organ, and Jose van Dam´s voice was a glorious thing too.
Now you have 2 recordings of Parsifal that complement each other, and of course, they are also the best recording of this work.
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:39 pm
by Jose Echenique
It should prove a most rewarding experience, Danielle Gatti´s conducting has been universally praised, as is of course, Jonas Kaufmann´s singing and acting. The Kundry, Katarina Dalayman, who made such a wonderful Brünnhilde in Manchester, is excellent too. The production is reportedly controversial, some liked it, others didn´t, but seeing Parsifal is always a special experience.
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:22 pm
by fergus
That is great Jared. What a coincidence! I would love to see it and that cinema is within walking distance for me too. I will have to check if it clashes with any Six Nations Rugby first!
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 11:40 am
by Jared
fergus wrote:That is great Jared. What a coincidence! I would love to see it and that cinema is within walking distance for me too. I will have to check if it clashes with any Six Nations Rugby first!
Well Fergus, it appears to be a Rugby w/e off... are you going?
You may also be interested to see that they are showing Handel's 'Giulio Cesare' on April 27th.. ;-)
Re: Wagner’s Parsifal; recommendations?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 9:41 pm
by fergus
Jared wrote:
Well Fergus, it appears to be a Rugby w/e off... are you going?
You may also be interested to see that they are showing Handel's 'Giulio Cesare' on April 27th.. ;-)
I am trying to convince my darling wife to accompany me Jared but a six hour opera is a hard sell!!!
Regarding the Giulio Cesare; I would be interested but it will depend on whether or not it is one of those modern or an original setting.