Wagner: Parsifal

Richard [Classical] Wagner (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Vienna State Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Anneliese Rothenberger (Performer), Biserka Cvejic (Performer), Christa Ludwig (Performer), Eberhard Wächter (Performer), Elisabeth Höngen (Performer), Erich Majkut (Performer), Ermanno Lorenzi (Performer), Fritz Uhl (Performer), Gerda Scheyrer (Performer), Gerda Schreyer (Performer), Gundula Janowitz (Performer), Hans Hotter (Performer), Hilde Gueden (Performer), Hilde Rossel-Majdan (Performer), Kostas Paskalis (Performer), Kurt Equiluz (Performer), Liselotte Maikl (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Anneliese Rothenberger, Biserka Cvejic, Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Wächter, Elisabeth Höngen, et al.
• Orchestra: Vienna State Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Richard [Classical] Wagner
• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Opera D'oro
• ASIN: B00000DCS2
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,859 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Prelude

2. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: he! Ho! Waldhüter Ihr -- Gurnemanz

3. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Seht Dort Die Wilde Reiterin!,, First Squire

4. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Rech So!y Habt Dank!y -- Amfortas

5. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: He, Du Da! Was Liegsts Du Dort, Third Squire

6. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Ja, Wann Oft Lange Sie Uns Ferne Blieb, Gurnemanz

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Des Weihgefäßes Göttlicher Gehalt -- Amfortas

2. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Nehmet Hin Meinen Leib -- Boys

3. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Wein Und Brot Des Letzten Mahles, Boy Voices

4. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act One: Was Stehst Du Noch Da? -- Gurnemanz

5. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Two: Prelude

6. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Two: herauf! Herauf! Zu Mir! -- Klingsor

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Two: O Elend, Aller Rettung Flucht! -- Parsifal

2. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Two: Vergeh, Unseliges Weib! -- Parsifal

3. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Three: Prelude

4. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Three: Von Dorther Kam Das Stöhnen -- Gurnemanz

5. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Three: Dienenÿ Dienen! -- Kundry

6. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111: Act Three: Wenn Dein Gelübde Dich Bindet -- Gurnemanz

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fine effort, but poor sound, December 13, 2000

By 

Ray Barnes (Surrey, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wagner: Parsifal (Audio CD)

For the very modest price asked, this set can be recommended, but at mid or full price would have to be passed over. The sound is definitely mono quality and below average even by comparison to other historical Wagner recordings from the 1950s. The singing is of consistently high standard apart perhaps from Fritz Uhl's assumption of the title role, which I found to be lacking in lyric beauty. Hans Hotter as expected was splendid in Gurnemanz, although he might have been trying to enliven his role somewhat by vocally overacting in places. For me Kurt Moll remains peerless in this role among modern singers. Karajan's tempi are much brisker than in his studio recording for DGG; for instance, the Act I Prelude is done in just over 12 minutes. He does not push as hard as did Boulez in the Bayreuth 1966 production. I cannot give a detailed assessment of the orchestral playing due to the very recessed sound, but what one can hear of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra - among them members of the Vienna Philharmonic - is quite agreeable. The presentation on only 3 very long CDs is close to ideal. A brief synopsis is provided but no libretto. I still rank the Karajan and Solti studio recordings well ahead of this one, but for the price it is well worth hearing.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More information on cast members, March 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wagner: Parsifal (Audio CD)

For those who don't know, this is the famous 1961 Vienna recording. Other cast members are Walter Berry as Klingsor, Fritz Uhl as Parsifal and, Christa Ludwig as Kundrty in Act II, with Elisabeth Hoengen performing the role in the outer acts. Among the Flowermaidens are Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Gueden, and Anneliese Rothenberger.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine Music, Bad CDs, March 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wagner: Parsifal (Audio CD)

The performance is fine, with a great cast. But the sound is quite bad, even for 1961. Plenty of recordings from the 30's and 40's sound much better.

The CD booklet has a summary of each act, but no libretto.