Parsifal Discography: Complete Recordings of the Opera
An introductory note:
n the years since I first assembled this discography, so many complete recordings of Parsifal have become
available that today it would be a significant undertaking for anyone to assemble a comprehensive survey. Therefore, although I shall make some additions to this
list from time to time, I have no ambition towards completeness and it will remain selective. I hope that this personal survey will at least assist those who are
overwhelmed by the choice of recordings to identify a few recordings with which to begin their listening. The recordings listed below are mostly those issued
commercially, in formats such as LP, CD, SACD or other digital media, together with a few recordings that are downloadable. I have made no attempt to include the
many cassette tapes and MP3 files that are in circulation.
Note regarding durations:
n some cases I have timed approximate durations of individual acts in the recorded performances. Those durations,
which give an indication of relative tempi, vary considerably. Here are some reference durations from early Bayreuth performances:
Conductor |
Year |
Act 1 |
Act 2 |
Act 3 |
Levi |
1882 |
1h47m |
1h02m |
1h15m. |
Fischer |
1882 |
1h50m |
1h10m |
1h23m. |
Mottl |
1888 |
1h46m |
1h07m |
1h22m. |
Seidl |
1897 |
1h48m |
1h04m |
1h27m. |
Muck |
1901 |
1h56m |
1h07m |
1h23m. |
Balling |
1904 |
1h46m |
1h03m |
1h19m. |
Beidler |
1906 |
1h48m |
1h05m |
1h18m. |
S. Wagner |
1909 |
1h49m |
1h09m |
1h25m. |
Kaehler |
1924 |
1h59m |
1h08m |
1h22m. |
Toscanini |
1931 |
2h06m |
1h12m |
1h30m. |
Strauss |
1933 |
1h46m |
1h04m |
1h18m. |
Von Hoesslin |
1934 |
1h44m |
1h05m |
1h18m. |
Furtwängler |
1936 |
1h52m |
1h03m |
1h17m. |
Knappertsbusch |
1951 |
1h56m |
1h10m |
1h21m. |
1936. Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires.
This performance was recorded on 22 September 1936.
- Parsifal:
- René Maison
- Kundry:
- Marjorie Lawrence
- Gurnemanz:
- Alexander Kipnis
- Amfortas:
- Martial Singher
- Klingsor:
- Fritz Krenn
- Titurel:
- Fred Destal
|
Conducted by Fritz Busch. Teatro Colón Orchestra and Chorus, Buenos Aires. Chorus master: Rafael Terragnolo.
Issued on CD: Ward Marston (info at marstonrecords.com).
Notes: Transcribed from the original discs by Ward Marston, who writes: The performance was recorded on sixteen- inch, aluminum-based,
lacquer-coated discs. Using two turntables running at approximately 32.8 rpm, the recording covers sixteen sides. I have been told that the recording
equipment was located in the basement of the Colón and that three microphones were used, one above the orchestra, a second above the front of the stage,
and a third over the rear of the stage. Unfortunately, the operator of this equipment did not know how to adjust the three microphones properly to achieve
a comfortable balance between singers and orchestra. Throughout the performance, the engineer constantly changed the sound level and switched microphones
on and off seemingly for no reason at all. The singers are, therefore, not always as audible as one would like them to be.
Approximate timings (some breaks): Act 1, 1h37m; Act 2, 53m; Act 3, 1h01m.
|
1938. Metropolitan Opera, New York
Live performance. Recorded on Good Friday, 15 April 1938. Broadcast direct on station WJZ.
- Parsifal:
- Lauritz Melchior
- Kundry:
- Kirsten Flagstad
- Gurnemanz:
- Emanuel List
- Amfortas:
- Friedrich Schorr
- Klingsor:
- Arnold Gabor
- Titurel:
- Norman Condon
|
Metropolitan Chorus and Orchestra, cond. Arthur Bodansky (acts 1 and 3), Erich Leinsdorf (act 2).
Issued on LP: The Golden Age of Opera, EJS 484, 1969.
Issued on CD: Myto 3CD 982.H013 3. Recently Act 2 (only, alas) has been transcribed from better source material and issued by Guild Immortal
Performances, as GHCD 2201.
Notes: This is the only known recording of Parsifal with Flagstad and Melchior together, and the only recording of a performance in which
Melchior sang the part without cuts. It also gives us a chance to hear the dark, deep voice of Emanuel List as Gurnemanz. This recording is, however, a
necessary acquisition of the obsessive collector only. So little of the performance is discernible through the noise and distortion that as an aesthetic
experience, listening to these discs leaves much to be desired and even more to the imagination. On first listening to its beginning, it is possible to
imagine that one is listening to a herd of elephants stampeding, in a field covered in crumpled aluminium-foil, during a hailstorm. In the distance,
muffled, an orchestra can be heard; the ear of faith can discern the prelude to Parsifal. Although the sound quality improves, there are still
passages in this act and the subsequent acts in which, while it is possible to hear someone singing, what they might be singing and who the singer might
be, is difficult to tell. There is a break of 10 to 30 seconds every seven minutes, when the acetate discs of the original were changed during off-air
recording. Some of these breaks occur at unfortunate points, such that we lose for example Titurel's "Mein Sohn Amfortas, bist du am Amt?", the second and
third lines of "Ich sah das Kind" and Parsifal's declaration that he will become the Grail King. These breaks (despite the performance being, it was
claimed, note-complete), result in a recording that fits on three CD's.
|
1948. Vienna
Live performance, October 1948.
- Parsifal:
- Günther Treptow
- Kundry:
- Anny Konetzni
- Gurnemanz:
- Ludwig Weber
- Amfortas:
- Paul Schöffler
- Klingsor:
- Adolf Vogel
- Titurel:
- Hans Braun
|
Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Symphoniker,
cond. Rudolf Moralt
Issued on CD: Myto 4MCD 954.136, 1995.
Notes: Moralt's conducting and the feeble playing of the VSO do not commend this recording. The singing is mostly good, although Treptow sometimes
sounds like he is being strangled. Bonus tracks: Act I of Die Walküre.
Approximate timings: 4h01m in total.
|
1949. Cologne
Live performance, April 1949.
- Parsifal:
- Bernd Aldenhoff
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Josef Greindl
- Amfortas:
- Heinrich Nillius
- Klingsor:
- Robert Blasius
- Titurel:
- Helmut Fehn
|
Cologne Opera, cond. Richard Kraus.
Issued on CD: Gebhart JGCD12, 2000.
Notes: Martha Mödl's first appearance in the rôle of Kundry, and very impressive she is too. The sound quality is very good for a historical
recording. Unfortunately there is what sounds like a bad edit early on side 2.
|
1950. Italian Radio
Live performance. Recorded 20 November 1950, Rome.
- Parsifal:
- Africo Baldelli
- Kundry:
- Maria Meneghini Callas
- Gurnemanz:
- Boris Christoff
- Amfortas:
- Rolando Panerai
- Klingsor:
- Giuseppe Modesti
- Titurel:
- Dimitri Lopatto
|
Italian Radio Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Vittorio Gui.
Issued on LP: Roger Franck FWR-648, 1966
Foyer FO 1002, 1981
Estro Armonico 55
MWC 101
Fonit Cetra LAR 41, 1984
Issued on CD: Melodram 36041, 1987
Virtuoso 2699232, 1989.
Notes: Sung in Italian and heavily cut. Maria Callas contributes a lyrical but dispassionate and detached interpretation of Kundry, which suggests
that she was unable either to identify with or to understand this character.
Approximate timings: Act 1 (deep cuts), 1h32m; Act 2 (some cuts), 54m; Act 3 (some cuts),
1h06m.
|
1951. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1951 (partly from two live performances and partly from the general rehearsal).
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Ludwig Weber
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Hermann Uhde
- Titurel:
- Arnold van Mill
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on LP: Decca LXT 2651-6, 1952
GOM 504-8, 1966; 411 786-1, 1966
Richmond RS 65001
London LLPA 10, 1952; A-4602
Issued on CD: Decca 425 976-2, 1989
Teldec 9031-76047-2.
Also to be found on labels Zyx and Quadromania at budget price.
Notes: Windgassen is a credible Parsifal and Weber is a highly (some might say, too highly) dramatic Gurnemanz. Mödl is an unsteady but committed
Kundry in this performance, having some difficulties with her pitch, and not up to the standard of her recorded 1949 or 1953 performances. George London is
a splendid Amfortas. Compared against later Bayreuth recordings, the string sound is a little thin, and the chorus are not always together. There is
significant stage noise and occasionally audience noise too.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h56m; Act 2, 1h10m; Act 3, 1h21m.
|
1952. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded 1st August 1952, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Ludwig Weber
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Hermann Uhde
- Titurel:
- Kurt Böhme
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on CD: Archipel ARPCD 0112-4, 2003; Andromeda ANDRCD5161, 2014.
Notes: Like most of the live performances available on record with Kna conducting the Bayreuth artists, this recording is presumably taken from a
live broadcast from the Festival. The singers are in general on better form than they had been in 1951 -- the cast is almost identical -- and the chorus is
significantly more confident and accurate. The orchestra plays even better than they did in 1951.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h52m; Act 2, 1h10m; Act 3, 1h19m.
|
1953. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1953, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Ramon Vinay
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Ludwig Weber
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Hermann Uhde
- Titurel:
- Josef Greindl
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Clemens Krauss.
Issued on LP: Rodolphe Productions RP 12378/81, 1982
Melodram MEL 533, 1983
Issued on CD: Laudis LCD4.4006
Rodolphe RPC 32516.17, 1988
Arlecchino ARL-A21, 1996
Remixed into "ambient stereo" by Pristine Audio.
Notes: Geoffrey Riggs (operacast.com) notes that Mödl's Kundry is in her element now and she is, indeed, in much better vocal control than
on the 1951 recording. He adds: A delightful bonus is the First Flower of Rita Streich . George London is heard at his best as Amfortas.
Unfortunately there is much coughing from the audience.
Approximate timings: (fast, uncut) Act 1, 1h39m; Act 2, 56m; Act 3, 1h09m.
|
1954. Paris
Live performance. Recorded 26 March 1954, Opéra Garnier.
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Otto von Rohr
- Amfortas:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Klingsor:
- Heinz Cramer
- Titurel:
- Frithjof Saintpaul
|
Orchestra of the Paris Opéra, Württemberg State Opera Chorus, Stuttgart.
cond. Ferdinand Leitner, chorus director Heinz Mende.
Issued on CD: Profil PH09009.
Notes: Watch this space.
Approximate timings: 3h59m in total.
|
1954. Metropolitan Opera, New York
Live performance. Broadcast direct on station WABC on 17 April 1954.
- Parsifal:
- Set Svanholm
- Kundry:
- Astrid Varnay
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Lawrence Davidson
- Titurel:
- Lubomir Vichegonov (Vichey)
|
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Fritz Stiedry.
Issued on LP: Melodram MEL 442(4), 1984.
Issued on CD: Adonis 54001, 1998.
Available as a download from operadepot.com.
Notes: An interesting performance with a strong cast. Hans Hotter is heard singing Gurnemanz for the first time in his career. Astrid Varnay is a
strong and convincing Kundry although a little unsteady at the start of the second act. Set Svanholm is an acceptable Parsifal. George London is a strong
and confident Amfortas. Lawrence Davidson was a last minute replacement as Klingsor but manages to get through the second act without too much trouble.
There is a lyrical quality to the singing of the minor roles, in distinct contrast to the more dramatic style that can be heard in recorded European
performances of the same work in the same period. Fritz Stiedry's conducting is rather eccentric, with some passages taken so fast that the singers can
hardly get the words out. There is a strange cut in Gurnemanz's narrative, after "uns'res König's Hut", down to "Vor dem verwais'ten Heiligtum". Perhaps
the management thought that the audience would find out about Klingsor and his Flower maidens eventually, so why spoil the surprise by letting Gurnemanz
tell us in advance?
Approximate timings (some cuts): Act 1, 1h42m; Act 2, 1h00m; Act 3, 1h08m.
|
1954. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1954, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Ludwig Weber
- Amfortas:
- Hans Hotter
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Arnold van Mill
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on CD: King Records 7 Seas KICC 2341/4, Golden Melodram GM 1.0053.
Notes: Watch this space.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h50m; Act 2, 1h11m; Act 3, 1h22m.
|
1956. Rome
Live performance. Recorded 29 March 1956, RAI.
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Ludwig Weber
- Amfortas:
- Ferdinand Frantz
- Klingsor:
- Hermann Uhde
- Titurel:
- Alois Pernerstorfer
|
Chorus and Orchestra of RAI Rome,
cond. Eugen Jochum.
Issued on CD: Living Stage LS4035169, 2003.
Notes:
Approximate timings: 3h57m in total.
|
1956. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1956, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Ramón Vinay
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Josef Greindl
- Amfortas:
- Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
- Klingsor:
- Toni Blankenheim
- Titurel:
- Hans Hotter
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on LP: Cetra LO 79, 1979
Melodram MEL 563, 1982
Issued on CD: Hunt LSMH 34035, 1990
Arkadia CDMP 435.4, 1991.
Notes: The weak links in the cast are DFD, unconvincing as a barking Amfortas, and a rather dull Klingsor from Toni Blankenheim. Hotter is a
splendid Titurel, although one might wish that he had sung Amfortas instead.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h50m; Act 2, 1h8m; Act 3, 1h18m.
|
1957. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1957, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Ramón Vinay
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Josef Greindl
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Toni Blankenheim
- Titurel:
- Arnold van Mill
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on CD:Walhall WLCD0215
Notes:
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h51m; Act 2, 1h6m; Act 3, 1h17m.
|
1958. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1958, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Hans Beirer
- Kundry:
- Régine Crespin
- Gurnemanz:
- Jerome Hines
- Amfortas:
- Eberhard Wächter
- Klingsor:
- Toni Blankenheim
- Titurel:
- Josef Greindl
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on LP: Melodram MEL 583, 1981.
Notes:
Issued on CD: Golden Melodram GM 1.0058.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h46m; Act 2, 1h09m; Act 3, 1h13m.
|
1959. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded 7 August 1959, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Hans Beirer
- Kundry:
- Martha Mödl
- Gurnemanz:
- Jerome Hines
- Amfortas:
- Eberhard Wächter
- Klingsor:
- Toni Blankenheim
- Titurel:
- Josef Greindl
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Notes: Noteworthy for a powerful interpretation of Amfortas from Eberhard Wächter.
Issued on CD:Walhall WLCD 0295
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h46m; Act 2, 1h08m; Act 3, 1h14m.
|
1960. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1960, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Hans Beirer
- Kundry:
- Régine Crespin
- Gurnemanz:
- Josef Greindl
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- David Ward
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on LP: Melodram MEL 018, 1980,
Melodram MEL 603, 1980.
Issued on CD: Myto.
Notes: The perceptive Emma Albani, writing on rec.music.opera, comments on the CD issue as follows. Wonderful choral work, excellent flower
maidens and good if not always together or really accurate orchestra. There is a great Kundry from Regine Crespin in her prime. T. Stewart also in his
prime in an excellent Amfortas. That leaves Parsifal and Gurnemanz, Beier and Griendl. They know what they're doing but are not pretty sounding...
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h48m; Act 2, 1h07m; Act 3, 1h10m.
|
1960. La Scala
Live performance. Recorded 1960, Milan.
- Parsifal:
- Sándór Konya
- Kundry:
- Rita Gorr
- Gurnemanz:
- Boris Christoff
- Amfortas:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Klingsor:
- Georg Stern
- Titurel:
- Silvio Maionica
|
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan,
cond. André Cluytens.
Issued on LP: Melodram MEL 437, 1984.
Issued on CD: Andromeda.
Notes: A mono recording but mostly in good sound. There are three small cuts in Gurnemanz's narratives. Well played and conducted, with a splendid
cast, including Montserrat Caballé as First Flower.
Approximate timings: 3h52m in total.
|
1961. Vienna State Opera
Live performance. Recorded Vienna, 1 April 1961.
- Parsifal:
- Fritz Uhl
- Kundry:
- Christa Ludwig (act 2), Elisabeth Höngren (acts 1 & 3, opening scene of act 2)
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- Eberhard Wächter
- Klingsor:
- Walter Berry
- Titurel:
- Tugomir Franc
|
Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Herbert von Karajan.
Issued on CD: Hunt/Arkadia KAR 219, 1990; Opera D'Oro 1998; RCA 74321-61950-2, 1999.
Notes: This recording seems to be missing part of the first scene of this performance, for which an extract from another recording has been
substituted. In this extract, possibly taken from a Bayreuth performance under Knappertsbusch, the voice of Gurnemanz appears to be that of Jerome Hines
and that of Kundry is probably Martha Mödl.
Karajan's tempi are brisk. The recording has a strong "feel" of live performance, with a live acoustic; the temple choruses and Titurel sound distant.
Otherwise the singers seem to have been closely miked. The orchestral balance is uneven, apparently due to the poor placing of too few microphones, and
some of the woodwind instruments are almost inaudible. Karajan seems to have concentrated on beauty of sound, both from the orchestra and the singers. Even
in passages where a more dramatic style would be normal, the singing is consistently lyrical. The strings seem to slide between notes rather more than is
usual.
For reasons that have not been fully explained, but apparently by Karajan's decision (this production was under his complete control), the role of
Kundry was taken by two singers. Elizabeth Höngren played the wild Kundry and the penitent Kundry; but the seductress was played by Christa Ludwig. In the
long scene between Kundry and Parsifal, Ludwig gives an outstanding performance, and, unusually, all of the necessary tension of this scene is evident.
Gundula Janowitz sings First Flower.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h41m; Act 2, 1h4m; Act 3, 1h11m.
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1961. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1961, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Jess Thomas
- Kundry:
- Irene Dalis
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Ludwig Weber
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Notes: Available from operadepot.com. Good mono sound. This is a fine performance of the opera with almost the same cast as on the better-known
recording from 1962. Irene Dalis is more than acceptable as Kundry.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h50m; Act 2, 1h10m; Act 3, 1h14m.
|
1962. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1962, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Jess Thomas
- Kundry:
- Irene Dalis
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Martti Talvela
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on LP: Philips 6729 002, 1964; 6747 250, 1976;
PHM 5-550 (mono) PHS 5-950 (stereo), 1965
Melodiya D 33809
Issued on CD: Philips 416 390-2, reissued as 464 756-2.
Notes: A very fine performance of the work and highly recommended. It is the only stereo recording among the many recordings from live
performances of Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival. This recording and the 1951 recording described above are the only "commercial" recordings
among them and generally of better technical quality than those originating in radio broadcasts. In a short review of Parsifal recordings
(November 2014), Gramophone recommended this recording as one of the greatest sets of all time. Unfortunately Hotter is heard on this set
already past his prime and George London's Amfortas is no more than a shadow of his recorded 1951 performance. The Flowermaidens include Gundula Janowitz
and Anja Silja.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h47m; Act 2, 1h9m; Act 3, 1h13m.
|
1963. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded 24 July 1963, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Irene Dalis
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- George London
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Ludwig Weber
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on CD: Golden Melodram GM-10034, 1999.
Notes:
Approximate timings:
|
1964. Bayreuth Festival
Live performance. Recorded 13 August 1964, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Jon Vickers
- Kundry:
- Barbro Ericson
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Heinz Hagenau
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Hans Knappertsbusch.
Issued on LP: Melodram MEL 643, 1984
Issued on CD: Hunt LSMH 34051, 1990; Golden Melodram 1.0004, 1998; Orfeo.
Notes: The 55th and last performance of Parsifal conducted by Kna at Bayreuth. Geoffrey Riggs (operacast.com) called this the most
superbly conducted 'Parsifal' on disc . Barbro Ericson is no more than adequate as Kundry. Hotter was by this time well past his "best before" date but
here steadier than on the 1962 recording. The First Flower is Anja Silja.
Approximate timings:
|
1965. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1965, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Jess Thomas
- Kundry:
- Astrid Varnay
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Hotter
- Amfortas:
- Theo Adam
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Martti Talvela
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. André Cluytens.
Notes: Available from operadepot.com: please note that the sound quality is not always good. In particular the third act seems to have been
taken from a damaged tape.
Jess Thomas is splendidly heroic, the star of this performance. Astrid Varnay is not on top vocal form and Hans Hotter is definitely past his best years.
The mens' chorus tend to shout.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h47m; Act 2, 1h7m; Act 3, 1h13m.
|
1966. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1966, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Sandor Konya
- Kundry:
- Astrid Varnay
- Gurnemanz:
- Josef Greindl
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Kurt Böhme
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Pierre Boulez.
Issued on CD: Golden Melodram 1.0037
Notes: A recording in good mono sound from a performance in which Boulez takes rather more relaxed tempi than in the 1970 recording (see below).
Konya is a convincing Parsifal and Stewart a suitably agonized Amfortas. The weakest link here is Josef Greindl, who barks his way through the role of
Gurnemanz. Unfortunately Astrid Varnay is past her prime here, with a tendency to shriek.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h39m; Act 2, 1h01m; Act 3, 1h09m.
|
1967. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1967, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- James King
- Kundry:
- Christa Ludwig
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Gustav Neidlinger
- Titurel:
- Karl Ridderbusch
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Pierre Boulez.
Notes: Available from operadepot.com.
Approximate timings: Act 1; Act 2; Act 3.
|
1968. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1968, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Jean Cox
- Kundry:
- Amy Shuard
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Donald McIntyre
- Titurel:
- Karl Ridderbusch
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Pierre Boulez.
Notes: Available from operadepot.com.
Approximate timings: Act 1; Act 2; Act 3.
|
1969. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1969, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- James King
- Kundry:
- Gwyneth Jones
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Gerd Nienstedt
- Titurel:
- Karl Ridderbusch
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Pierre Boulez.
Notes: Available from operadepot.com.
Approximate timings: Act 1; Act 2; Act 3.
|
1969. Buenos Aires
Live performance. Recorded 24 October 1969, Teatro Colón.
- Parsifal:
- Wolfgang Windgassen
- Kundry:
- Regine Crespin
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Theo Adam
- Klingsor:
- Victor de Narke
- Titurel:
- Victor de Narke
|
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Colón,
cond. Erich Leinsdorf.
Notes: Issued on CD by Living Stage, LS 1043, 2003.
Approximate timings: (presumably cut) 3h28m.
|
1970. Rome
Live performance. Undated, RAI.
- Parsifal:
- Timo Callio
- Kundry:
- Ursula Schröder-Feinen
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Theo Adam
- Klingsor:
- Gerd Nienstedt
- Titurel:
- Kurt Moll
|
Chorus and Orchestra of RAI Rome,
cond. Wolfgang Sawallisch.
Issued on CD: Myto 063.328, 2006.
Notes:
Approximate timings: 3h48m in total.
|
1970. Teatro La Fenice, Venice.
Live performance. Recorded 16 April 1970, Venice.
- Parsifal:
- René Kollo
- Kundry:
- Amy Shuard
- Gurnemanz:
- Arnold van Mill
- Amfortas:
- Hubert Hoffmann
- Klingsor:
- Georg Stern
- Titurel:
- Walther Hagner
|
Chorus and Orchestra of La Fenice,
cond. Heinz Wallberg.
Issued on CD: Mondo Musica MFOH 10411, 1999.
Notes: Why this has been issued is a mystery. Although the principal singers are adequate, Heinz Wallberg seems to be out of his depth in the
score of Parsifal. He conducts most of the music quite fast, except for the prelude to the second act, which plods along at andante. The
orchestra and singers must have had some difficulty following his beat, since the strings are sometimes out of step with the brass and the singers are
often out of step with both. Both orchestra and chorus sound under-rehearsed. The mens chorus provide some vigorous singing in the temple scenes that
suggests (perhaps not inappropriately) a rugby team after a hard game. The strangest thing about this recording is that the choruses in both the first act
and the third act are sung in Italian even though the soloists sing in German.
The score has been disfigured by deep cuts. These include: in the first act, Gurnemanz's lines are cut from Drum blieb es dem ... down to the
end of his narration, the next line being that of the squire, Vor allem nun: der Speer kehr uns zurück!; then, after the swan is brought on,
from Sein Weibchen zu suchen ... down to Parsifal breaking his bow. Towards the end of the second act, Kundry's lines are cut from Nun
such' ich ihn ... down to aus der ich büssend kaum erwacht; then the exchange with Parsifal from Kundry's Nie -- sollst du ihn
finden! down to Parsifal's Vergeh', unseliges Weib!, so that the next line sung is Kundry's Hilfe! Hilfe! ; then her lines
are omitted from Und flöhest du von hier ... down to so verwünsch' ich sie dir. In the third act, there is an enormous cut in
Gurnemanz's part, from Ach, sie bedarf des Heiles ..., omitting Parsifal's cry of guilt, down to Nicht so!, resuming at Die
heil'ge Quelle selbst. Thus Parsifal is never told that Titurel has died! These cuts, together with the fast tempi, shorten the music enough to fit
on three CD's.
Despite the date given on the box, this recording seems to have been compiled from more than one performance, or at least more than one tape, since there
are some clumsy edits (for example at so segne ich dein Haupt in act three). Therefore it seems hard to understand that some of the rougher
patches of orchestral playing were included in the master, such as the wrong entry of a brass player (no doubt confused by the cuts) just before this at
so sei er fleckenrein. The placement of microphones does not seem to have been given much thought; generally the orchestra is too loud in
relation to the singers, and when the latter are upstage they are faint; the offstage choruses are barely audible and the voice from above can hardly be
heard. The sound of the coughing audience, however, has been faithfully recorded.
Approximate timings: (deep cuts) 3h14m in total.
|
1970. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1970, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Jame King
- Kundry:
- Gwyneth Jones
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Donald McIntyre
- Titurel:
- Karl Ridderbusch
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Pierre Boulez.
Issued on LP: Deutsche Grammophon 2720 034; 217 004; 419 033-1, 1971
Notes: The work is ruined by a misguided conductor who takes many passages much too fast, thus shortening each act by ten minutes, and by the
shrieking of Gwyneth Jones (fortunately pre-wobble).
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h34m; Act 2, 59m; Act 3, 1h06m.
|
1971. ROH Covent Garden, London.
Live recording. Recorded and broadcast on 8 May 1971.
- Parsifal:
- Jon Vickers
- Kundry:
- Amy Shuard
- Gurnemanz:
- Louis Hendrikx
- Amfortas:
- Norman Bailey
- Klingsor:
- Donald McIntyre
- Titurel:
- Michael Langdon
|
ROH Orchestra and Royal Opera Chorus, cond. Reginald Goodall
Issued on CD: ROH Heritage Series ROHS012. Radio broadcast stereo.
Notes: Although it records what was in some respects less than a great performance, this recording of the infamous "furry log" production is an
important historical document from Covent Garden in the Solti era. There is some great singing -- Vickers alone justifies buying this set, McIntyre and
Hendrikx are excellent, Bailey and Shuard (described by the eminent Geoffrey Riggs as a creditable soprano Kundry ) are both good, and the flower
maidens are delightful -- but the performance is spoiled in places by quite inadequate playing in the pit (where perhaps the substitutes outnumbered the
regular players?). One does not have to listen to more than half of the first act prelude to realise that this was not a good night for the brass section,
who continue to play out of tune for most of the first act. On the other hand, there is some fine playing from soloists in the woodwind section. Of the
bells, perhaps the less said the better. Goodall was on this occasion as on many others tediously slow, taking nearly half an hour longer to deliver a
performance than did Solti, almost as slow as Toscanini was in 1931. Goodall was in the annoying habit of taking a "Luftpause" at the end of every other
phrase. This does not seem to matter in the outer acts but there are places in the second act where I find myself thinking, "for goodness sake get a
move on, Reggie!".
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h59m; Act 2, 1h18m; Act 3, 1h26m.
|
1971. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1971, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Sandor Konya
- Kundry:
- Janis Martin
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Thomas Stewart
- Klingsor:
- Gerd Nienstedt
- Titurel:
- Karl Ridderbusch
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Eugen Jochum, chorus master Wilhelm Pitz.
Issued on CD: Golden Melodram, 2003.
Notes: ... aside from the Klingsor and the very occasional disagreement with the podium, this appears to be one of the more assured musical
readings on the market. - Geoffrey Riggs.
Approximate timings: 3h57m in total.
|
1971-1972. Vienna State Opera
Studio recording. 7-17 December 1971 and 15-25 March 1972, Sofiensaal.
- Parsifal:
- René Kollo
- Kundry:
- Christa Ludwig
- Gurnemanz:
- Gottlob Frick
- Amfortas:
- Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
- Klingsor:
- Zoltan Kélémen
- Titurel:
- Hans Hotter
|
Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Boys Choir, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
cond. Georg Solti.
Issued on LP: Decca SET 550-4, 1973
London OSA 1510, 1973
Issued on CD: Decca 417 143-2
Notes: A remarkable feature of Kollo's interpretation is the drained, bleached tone he employs during the Good Friday scene in the last act.
Although unattractive, it conveys the weariness and exhaustion of Parsifal, after ten years of wandering. This recording features a strong cast, also in
minor roles; the flower maidens included Lucia Popp, Anne Howells and Kiri te Kanawa.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h51m; Act 2, 1h11m; Act 3, 1h18m.
|
1972. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1972, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- James King
- Kundry:
- Janis Martin
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz Crass
- Amfortas:
- Theo Adam
- Klingsor:
- Donald McIntyre
- Titurel:
- Hans Sotin
|
Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra,
cond. Eugen Jochum.
Notes: Available from operadepot.com.
Approximate timings:
|
1975. Leipzig
Live performance. Recorded from a concert performance on 11 January 1975.
- Parsifal:
- René Kollo
- Kundry:
- Gisela Schröter
- Gurnemanz:
- Ulric Cold
- Amfortas:
- Theo Adam
- Klingsor:
- Reid Bunger
- Titurel:
- Fred Teschler
|
Leipzig Radio Chorus, Berlin Radio Chorus, St. Thomas' Choir, Leipzig, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Herbert Kegel.
Issued on LP: Eterna 8 27 031-035, 1975.
Issued on CD: Berlin Classics, a sub-label of Edel Classics. Budget issue 2005, reissued complete with booklet 2008.
Notes: Some reviewers have advised that this recording should be avoided. I found it mostly good, especially the choruses, although the set cannot
be recommended as a first, or even as a second, recording. Brisk and unsentimental. Kollo is a convincing Parsifal but Gisela Schröter has a disturbing
vocal wobble. The orchestra are fine although sometimes the brass are a little too loud.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h35m; Act 2, 1h00m; Act 3, 1h06m.
|
1976. Paris
Live performance. Recorded at L'Opéra de Paris on 18 April 1976.
- Parsifal:
- Jon Vickers
- Kundry:
- Nadine Denize
- Gurnemanz:
- Kurt Moll
- Amfortas:
- Theo Adam
- Klingsor:
- Jacques Mars
- Titurel:
- Jules Bastin
|
Choeur et Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris; cond. Horst Stein.
Recording: Available in good quality sound and MP3 format from operadepot.com .
Notes: Anyone looking for a recording of this opera with Jon Vickers on the top of his form need look no further. Mezzo Nadine Denize delivers a
superb interpretation of Kundry. Horst Stein's conducting is competent and the orchestral playing is excellent.
Approximate timings: Act 1, ; Act 2, ; Act 3, .
|
1976. Frankfurt
Live performance. Recorded at Oper Frankfurt on 23 May 1976.
- Parsifal:
- Sven Olaf Eliasson
- Kundry:
- Leonie Rysanek
- Gurnemanz:
- Manfred Schenk
- Amfortas:
- Leif Roar
- Klingsor:
- Dieter Waller
|
Orchestra and Choir of Oper Frankfurt; cond. Horst Stein.
Recording: Available from operadepot.com .
Notes:
Approximate timings: Act 1, ; Act 2, ; Act 3, .
|
1976. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1976, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Peter Hofmann
- Kundry:
- Eva Randová
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Sotin
- Amfortas:
- Bern Weikl
- Klingsor:
- Karl Ridderbusch
|
Orchestra and Choir of Oper Frankfurt; cond. Horst Stein.
Recording: Available from operadepot.com .
Notes:
Approximate timings: Act 1, ; Act 2, ; Act 3, .
|
1979-1980. Berlin
Studio recording. Recorded 4-29 December 1979, 2-4 January, 15 April
and 1 July 1980, Berlin Philharmonic Hall.
- Parsifal:
- Peter Hofmann
- Kundry:
- Dunja Vejzovic
- Gurnemanz:
- Kurt Moll
- Amfortas:
- José van Dam
- Klingsor:
- Siegmund Nimsgern
- Titurel:
- Victor von Halem
|
Chorus of the German Opera, Berlin, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orch.,
cond. Herbert von Karajan.
Issued on LP: Deutsche Grammophon 2741 002, 1981.
Issued on CD: Deutsche Grammophon 413 347-2, 1984.
Notes: Hofmann's voice already shows signs of its imminent decline. Vejzovic is wobbly throughout and sometimes shrill. As compensation, Kurt Moll
is a fine Gurnemanz and van Dam is probably the best Amfortas on record. The Voice is sung by Hanna Schwarz. Karajan allows the orchestra to get rather too
loud, relative to the singers, in some passages, such as the flower maidens scene. This is a pity when there are such fine Flowermaidens involved as
Barbara Hendricks and Inga Nielsen. As we can also hear in the earlier, live recording from Vienna, Karajan concentrated on the beauty of this music, at
the expense of the drama.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h50m; Act 2, 1h9m; Act 3, 1h18m.
|
1980. Bavarian Radio
Digital studio recording, Munich, 1980.
- Parsifal:
- James King
- Kundry:
- Yvonne Minton
- Gurnemanz:
- Kurt Moll
- Amfortas:
- Bernd Weikl
- Klingsor:
- Franz Mazura
- Titurel:
- Matti Salminen
|
Choir and Symphony Orchestra of Bavarian Radio, Tölzer Knabenchor,
cond. Rafael Kubelik.
Issued on CD: Arts Archives 43027-2, 2003
Notes: This recently issued recording allows us to hear a remarkable performance in excellent sound. It is widely regarded as one of the best
recordings of Parsifal issued to date. In gratitude to Arts Archives, I shall overlook the fact that the illustration that ends the first act of
the libretto, in their CD booklet, was stolen from this web-site!
In a 2013 review of Parsifal recordings for the BBC series "Building a Library", David Nice selected this recording as his top recommendation.
Geoffrey Riggs (operacast.com) has noted that in this performance, Kubelik achieves the same "rapt quality" of the Knappertsbusch and Jochum sets. A
splendid, solid Gurnemanz from Kurt Moll, here heard at his best. The First Flower is sung by Lucia Popp.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h52m; Act 2, 1h7m; Act 3, 1h16m.
|
1981. Monte-Carlo
Studio recording. Recorded 29 June-3 July and 6-10 July 1981,
Palais de Congrès à Monte-Carlo.
- Parsifal:
- Reiner Goldberg
- Kundry:
- Yvonne Minton
- Gurnemanz:
- Robert Lloyd
- Amfortas:
- Wolfgang Schöne
- Klingsor:
- Aage Haugland
- Titurel:
- Hans Tschammer
|
Prague Philharmonic Chorus, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra,
cond. Armin Jordan.
Issued on LP: Erato NUM 750105, 1982.
Issued on CD: Erato 2292-45662-2, 1990.
Issued on Videocassette: PAL/VHS ART 0P1.
Notes: Although recorded for the soundtrack of the film by Hans Jürgen Syberberg, this recording is a
remarkable achievement in its own right. Jordan gives a conservative and well-balanced interpretation of the music and the playing of the Monte-Carlo
orchestra is acceptable. To this author at least, Armin Jordan's tempi feel right.
Geoffrey Riggs (operacast.com) has described Robert Lloyd's Gurnemanz as, in places, as poetic as anyone who has ever sung this role (Kipnis
included) . But Riggs was not impressed by Schöne's Amfortas, which he described as unadulterated, anti-poetic, unmusical shtick .
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h45m; Act 2, 1h7m; Act 3, 1h13m.
|
1981. Bayreuth
Live performance. Recorded July-August 1981, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Siegfried Jerusalem
- Kundry:
- Eva Randova
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Sotin
- Amfortas:
- Bernd Weikl
- Klingsor:
- Leif Roar
- Titurel:
- Matti Salminen
|
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival, cond. Horst Stein.
Issued on laser disc: Philips PAL 070 410-1; NTSC 070 510-1, 1991;
in set CDV-509-517, 1991.
Issued on Videocassette: PAL/VHS 070 410; NTSC/VHS 070 510-3, 1991.
Notes: Horst Stein's conducting is pedestrian. Jerusalem is in superb voice, but Randova disappoints.
|
1982. Radio France.
Live concert performance.
- Parsifal:
- Siegfried Jerusalem
- Kundry:
- Leonie Rysanek
- Gurnemanz:
- Kurt Moll
- Amfortas:
- Bernd Weikl
- Klingsor:
- Becht
|
Orchestre national de France, cond. Marek Janowski.
Issued on LP: HRE 412-2
Notes: A broadcast of an abridged performance given in the Parsifal centenary year.
|
1983. Budapest
Live performance. Recorded and broadcast on 13 February 1983, Budapest.
- Parsifal:
- András Molnár
- Kundry:
- Katalin Kasza
- Gurnemanz:
- László Polgár
- Amfortas:
- Sandor Sólyom-Nagy
- Klingsor:
- András Faragó
- Titurel:
- Ferenc Szalma
|
Chorus and Orchestra of the Hungarian Opera,
cond. János Ferencsik.
Issued on LP: Hungaroton SLPX 12784-88, 1985.
Notes: sung in Hungarian.
|
1984. Welsh National Opera, Swansea
Recorded 17 to 25 June 1984 in Brangwyn Hall.
- Parsifal:
- Warren Ellsworth
- Kundry:
- Waltraud Meier
- Gurnemanz:
- Donald McIntyre
- Amfortas:
- Phillip Joll
- Klingsor:
- Nicholas Folwell
- Titurel:
- David Gwynne
|
Chorus and Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera,
cond. Reginald Goodall.
Issued on LP: EMI 27 0178 3, 1985
Angel DS-3972, 1985
Issued on CD: EMI CDS7 4912-8, 1988.
Notes: Warren Ellsworth was, at the time this recording was made, lacking in the upper register, although in later performances at ENO and Covent
Garden he gave a better account of the rôle. Goodall's tempi were notoriously slow. In this recording, the second act is unreasonably slow; it drags. The
outer movements, however, seem to benefit from the broad tempi. Every detail is laid bare, and we can hear instruments (such as the harps at the very end
of the work) where they are not heard in other recordings, and melodic lines that are usually lost in orchestral texture. An ideal recording for anyone who
wants to study the music with the score in front of them.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h57m; Act 2, 1h23m; Act 3, 1h26m.
|
1985. Bayreuth Festival
Live performances. Recorded July-August 1985, Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
- Parsifal:
- Peter Hofmann
- Kundry:
- Waltraud Meier
- Gurnemanz:
- Hans Sotin
- Amfortas:
- Simon Estes
- Klingsor:
- Franz Mazura
- Titurel:
- Matti Salminen
|
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival,
cond. James Levine.
Issued on LP: Philips 416 842-1, 1987
Issued on CD: Philips 416 842-2, 1987.
Notes: Soon after this recording, Hofmann redirected his career into that of a rock star. Here he sounds gritty and coarse. Simon Estes is an
insipid Amfortas. The star of these performances was Waltraud Meier, whose intelligent penetration into the predicament of Kundry is an unprecedented
achievement. But even Meier is not heard here at her best -- compare the Barenboim/Berlin recording listed below. Levine's tempi are close to those of
Goodall in the outer acts, slightly less glacial in the second act. Levine does not bring out the detail of Wagner's orchestration as Goodall did, and for
which we can forgive the latter his slow tempi -- Levine seems to be wallowing in, rather than illuminating, this music. He manages to make the second act
as exciting as watching paint dry. Recommended for insomniacs only.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h59m; Act 2, 1h15m; Act 3, 1h24m.
|
1989-90. Berlin
Studio recording. Recorded December 1989 - March 1990, Jesus-Christus- Kirche.
- Parsifal:
- Siegfried Jerusalem
- Kundry:
- Waltraud Meier
- Gurnemanz:
- Matthias Hölle
- Amfortas:
- José van Dam
- Klingsor:
- Günter von Kannen
- Titurel:
- John Tomlinson
|
Chorus of the German State Opera Berlin and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,
cond. Daniel Barenboim.
Issued on CD: Teldec 9031-74448-2, 1991. Later reissued at bargain price, without booklet.
Notes: A first-class performance by a cast of distinguished Wagnerians. In particular, Waltraud Meier gives a highly intelligent interpretation of
Kundry and is even better than she was on the earlier Goodall and Levine recordings. Siegfried Jerusalem is heard here while still in his prime. Once
again, van Dam convincingly conveys the agony of Amfortas. Geoffrey Riggs (operacast.com) hails José van Dam as the finest Amfortas on disc. Barenboim
adopts tempi similar to those of Solti and Karajan on their recordings of the same vintage, with a habit of making slight rallentandi in advance of each
climax.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h51m; Act 2, 1h8m; Act 3, 1h17m.
|
1992. Metropolitan Opera, New York
Studio recording. Recorded April 1991 and June 1992, Manhattan Center.
- Parsifal:
- Plácido Domingo
- Kundry:
- Jessye Norman
- Gurnemanz:
- Kurt Moll
- Amfortas:
- James Morris
- Klingsor:
- Ekkehard Wlaschiha
- Titurel:
- Jan-Hendrick Rootering
|
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera,
cond. James Levine.
Issued on CD: Deutsche Grammophon 437 501-2.
Notes: As with Maria Callas in the rôle of Kundry, Jessye Norman gives a lyrical interpretation that some might find lacking in drama. Domingo is
in good form here and his much- criticised German is intelligible and acceptable. Levine's tempi are not quite as slow as in the live recording from
Bayreuth, but still soporific.
There is also a Metropolitan Opera video, conducted by Levine but with some changes of cast: Siegfried Jerusalem, Waltraud Meier, Bernd Weikl and Franz
Mazura.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h55m; Act 2, 1h12m; Act 3, 1h22m.
|
1997. Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam.
Live recording. Recorded and broadcast on 9 February 1997.
- Parsifal:
- Poul Elming
- Kundry:
- Violeta Urmana
- Gurnemanz:
- Robert Lloyd
- Amfortas:
- Wolfgang Schöne
- Klingsor:
- Günter von Kannen
- Titurel:
- Carsten Stabell
|
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, cond. Simon Rattle.
Issued on CD-ROM: Opera Classics, 1999.
Notes: Despite a tiresomely static and conceptually inane staging, this production was redeemed by a musical interpretation at least as great as
any the author has experienced.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h41m; Act 2, 1h6m; Act 3, 1h13m.
|
2005. Vienna
Live recording, 23 June 2005.
- Parsifal:
- Plácido Domingo
- Kundry:
- Waltraud Meier
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz-Josef Selig
- Amfortas:
- Falk Struckmann
- Klingsor:
- Wolfgang Bankl
- Titurel:
- Ain Anger
|
Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera, cond. Christian Thielemann.
Issued on CD: DGG 2006.
Notes:
Approximate timings:4h02m in total.
|
2005. Teatro La Fenice, Venice
Live recording, March 2005.
- Parsifal:
- Richard Decker
- Kundry:
- Doris Soffel
- Gurnemanz:
- Matthias Hölle
- Amfortas:
- Wolfgang Schöne
- Klingsor:
- Mikolaj Zalasinski
- Titurel:
- Ulrich Dünnebach
|
Chorus and Orchestra of La Fenice,
cond. Gabor Ötvös.
Issued on CD: Dynamic, 2006.
Notes:
Approximate timings:
|
2009. St. Petersburg, Russia.
Live recording of performances given between 5-13 June 2009 in the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre.
- Parsifal:
- Gary Lehman
- Kundry:
- Violeta Urmana
- Gurnemanz:
- René Pape
- Amfortas:
- Evgeny Nikitin
- Klingsor:
- Nikolai Putilin
- Titurel:
- Alexei Tanovitski
|
Orchestra and chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre conducted by Valery Gergiev.
Issued on hybrid SACD: Mariinsky, 2009
Notes:As Gurnemanz, René Pape is everything a devotee of this opera could wish for. Up-and-coming heldentenor Gary Lehman is more than adequate in
the title role, as those of us who have heard his interpretation of Tannhäuser had expected. I was overwhelmed by Violetta Urmana when I first heard her in
the Amsterdam production (see above) and although she has now pushed up into soprano roles, she is still the best Kundry around at present (2009). This
strong cast of principals is supported by an ensemble with a distinguished tradition of Wagner performances.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h52m; Act 2, 1h7m; Act 3, 1h18m.
|
2011. Berlin
Live recording, Berlin 8 April 2011.
- Parsifal:
- Christian Elsner
- Kundry:
- Michelle DeYoung
- Gurnemanz:
- Franz-Josef Selig
- Amfortas:
- Evgeny Nikitin
- Klingsor:
- Eike Wilm Schulte
- Titurel:
- Dmitri Ivashchenko
|
RSO Berlin and Radio Choir Berlin, conducted by Marek Janowski.
Issued on hybrid SACD:PentaTone Classics, 2012.
Notes:
Approximate timings: 3h46m in total.
|
2013. London, Royal Albert Hall.
Live recording, 25 August 2013.
- Parsifal:
- Lars Cleveman
- Kundry:
- Katarina Dalayman
- Gurnemanz:
- Sir John Tomlinson
- Amfortas:
- Detlef Roth
- Klingsor:
- Tom Fox
- Titurel:
- Reinhard Hagen
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The Hallé orchestra with the Hallé Youth Choir, Royal Opera Chorus, and Trinity Boys Choir. Conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Offstage conductor:
Jamie Phillips.
Issued on CD: Hallé, HLD 7539, 2014.
Notes:This BBC Proms performance from August 2013 featured a strong team of experienced Wagnerian soloists, including a Parsifal and Kundry both
from Sweden who had sung their roles at the Royal Swedish Opera and elsewhere. In the role of Gurnemanz we hear the veteran British Wagnerian, Sir John
Tomlinson. Unfortunately at the time of this performance, his voice was sounding more than a little worn, although Sir John's technique carries him through
it. Roth, Fox and Hagen had sung their roles before in Bayreuth and elsewhere. Mark Elder too has long operatic experience, for example at ENO, although he
is not regarded as a Wagner specialist. Elder's tempi are well considered, in general, and his timings are similar to those of Kna recorded in 1962. The
start of the second act however I found a little too slow and lacking in excitement. The sound on the recording is crystal clear with good balance (a
benefit of recording a concert performance using multiple microphones). The harps can be heard clearly at the very end of the opera, as on the WNO
recording, which is usually not the case either on recordings or in live performance.
Approximate timings: Act 1, 1h52m; Act 2, 1h8m; Act 3, 1h18m.
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