Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al [Live]

Richard Wagner (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Vienna State Opera Orchestra (Orchestra, Performer), Christa Ludwig (Performer), Eberhard Waechter (Performer), Eberhard Wächter (Performer), Elisabeth Höngen (Performer), Fritz Uhl (Performer), Hans Hotter (Performer, Orchestra), Tugomir Franc (Performer), Walter Berry (Performer), Herbert von Karajan (Artist), Eberhard Waechter (Artist), Hans Hotter (Artist), Tugomir Franc (Artist), Fritz Uhl (Artist), Walter Berry (Artist), Christa Ludwig (Artist), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Waechter, Eberhard Wächter, Elisabeth Höngen, et al.
• Orchestra: Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Hans Hotter
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Richard Wagner
• Audio CD (June 14, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Live
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000K4HP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,846 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing reissue of the 1961 live recording, December 11, 1999

By 

Derrick Everett - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al (Audio CD)

Great performance, dreadful recording. This is the first "official" issue of Karajan's famous production of "Parsifal" for the Staatsoper in Vienna, which has previously appeared on minor "pirate" labels. The box even bears a stamp of approval from the Staatsoper. Unfortunately, the reissue does not correct any of the defects of early issues.

Presumably because the original tape is incomplete, part of the first act has been spliced in from an entirely different performance with a different cast. But this is less of a problem than the strange balance in the recording, with the singers closely miked while the orchestra it seems was only recorded with one, badly placed, microphone. The result is a balance tipped in favour of the singers (which many might prefer to Karajan's usual practise of placing the orchestra in the foreground of his studio recordings) while some of the instruments, notably in the woodwind section, are almost inaudible. It is a pity that Karajan, who reportedly had over one hundred lighting rehearsals for this famous production, did not devote any time to ensuring that a good recording was made for posterity.

The strangest aspect of this production was that the role of Kundry (apparently on Karajan's decision) was split between two singers. In the first and last acts, and for the first scene of the second act, the wild-woman was sung by Elizabeth Höngen. When Kundry was transformed into the beautiful seductress, however, she appeared in the form of Christa Ludwig -- whose performance of the long scene in which she fails to seduce the young hero, is one of the greatest interpretations on record and alone worth the price of this set.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good Parsifal, November 27, 2000

By 

Liveliza Barnes (Surrey BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al (Audio CD)

I generally concur with earlier commentaries on this recording, but would like to add it has been recently re-released on only 3 CDs on the Opera d'Oro label in the lowest price range - around $15 - and Amazonians who have been hesitating should snap this one up. I prefer the studio recording that Karajan made for DGG - especially in terms of sound quality - but this performance is well worth having too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al [LIVE], September 19, 2007

By 

Bjorn Viberg (European Union) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al (Audio CD)

Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al [LIVE] is a splendid recording with one of the best conductors of all time, i.e., Herbert Von Karajan. Von Karajan is able to put into intense emotions into Wagners already emotiondriven music. As for the soundquality. One has to bear in mind that this was recorded 1961 and therefore more then 40 years ago. So to expect the same sound quality as today is just not right. The book-let is a great piece of work and it has many fine photos and essays written in it. I wish I could have a time machine so I could go back in time and listen to this great concert. I give this recording 5 well-deserved stars.