René Kollo tenor
Ulrik Cold bass
Theo Adam bass
Gisela Schröter contralto
Reid Bunger baritone
Fred Teschler bass
Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Thomanerchor Leipzig
Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig
Herbert Kegel conductor
Format
3 CD
Cat. number
95120
EAN code
5028421951201
Release
July 2015
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Wagner’s most elusive and enigmatic opera, Parsifal has given scholars much to think about it since its premiere in 1882. A cryptic mixture of Christian, pagan and oriental elements, as well as containing some nods to the 19th-century writings of Schopenhauer, the opera follows the medieval legend of the knights of the Holy Grail. With their leader Amfortas gravely injured, the Knights are in trouble, and turn to the unlikely hero Parsifal to steal back the holy spear Amfortas possessed when he was seduced and stabbed by Klingsor, an embittered ex-knight. On the way, Parsifal must battle the temptations of the flower maidens and the manipulative Kundry – this in addition to him discovering more about his own past. Wagner’s last opera, Parsifal deals centrally with the theme of Mitleid, or compassion, a redemptive quality that is underlined by Wagner’s gloriously sublime score.
Featuring a stellar cast, this production was originally released in 1978 and has certainly stood the test of time. René Kollo takes the main role in a release that was lauded by Gramophone for its ‘highly distinguished’ singing and conducting ‘unusual in its swiftness and dramatic candour’. With a first-class supporting cast that includes Gisela Schröter as the devious Kundry and Theo Adam as the despairing Amfortas, this Parsifal marks a wonderful tribute to Wagner’s work of intense humanity.
This reissue of the 1975 live recording of Wagner’s Parsifal features a stellar cast: the great René Kollo in the title role, further Theo Adam, Gisela Schröter and Ulrik Cold, and the splendid Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig, conducted by Herbert Kegel, a specialist in late romantic repertoire.
First issued on Berlin Classics this historic recording received high praise for its “unusual swiftness and dramatic candour” (Gramophone) and the “highly distinguished” title role of Rene Kollo.
The booklet contains excellent liner notes in English and German, the libretto is available on the Brilliant Classics website.
Other information:
Recorded in Leipzig’s Kongreßhalle in 1975.
Contains extensive notes on the opera in English and German.
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: He, Du da! Was liegst du dort wie ein wildes Tier? (Third Esquire/Kundry/Fourth Esquire/Gurnemanz)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: O wunden-wundervoller heiliger Speer! (Gurnemanz/Third Esquire/First Esquire/Second Esquire)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Titurel, der fromme Held (Gurnemanz)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Vor allem nun: der Speer kehr’ uns zurück! (Fourth Esquire/Third Esquire/Gurnemanz/Knights and other Esquires)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Weh’! Hoho! Auf! Wer ist der Frevler? (Knights and Esquires/Gurnemanz/Parsifal)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Du konntest morden (Gurnemanz/Parsifal)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Wo bist du her? (Gurnemanz/Parsifal)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Den Vaterlosen gebar die Mutter (Kundry/Parsifal/Gurnemanz)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: So recht! So nach des Grales Gnade (Gurnemanz/Kundry)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Vom Bade kehrt der König heim (Gurnemanz/Parsifal)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Transformation Music
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Nun achte wohl und laß mich seh’n (Gurnemanz/Knights of the Grail/Voices of youths)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Mein Sohn Amfortas, bist du am Amt? (Titurel/Amfortas)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Enthüllet den Gral! (Titurel/Amfortas/Boys and youths/Knights)
Disk 2
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Nehmet hin meinen Leib, nehmet hin mein Blut (Voices from above/Boys’ voices from above//Titurel)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Wein und Brot des letzten Mahles(Boys’ voices from above/Youths’ voices/Knights of the Holy Grail)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 1: Was stehst du noch da? (Gurnemanz/Voices)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Prelude to Act 2
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 2: Die Zeit ist da (Klingsor)
Richard Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111, Act 2: Erwachst du? Ha! Meinem Banne wieder verfallen (Klingsor)