Customer Reviews

Wagner: Parsifal

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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 Kundry in Act II, with Elisabeth Hoengen performing the role in the outer acts. Among the Flowermaidens are Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Gueden, and Anneliese Rothenberger.

This recording has a magnificent cast under the direction of von Karajan. It's too bad the sound quality isn't better. Nonetheless, for the very reasonable price this is worth the money. It's a very enjoyable performance.

The legendary Karajan teams up with an excellent cast making this one a special recording. Live Mono sound is acceptable for early 1960s standards but I will opt to invest in Karajan's full priced Digital Stereo recording from 1980 which is easier to appreciate considering this music drama's atmospheric score. Both recordings have their unique distinguishing qualities, and both are worth having. Offered at a bargain price and only in 3 CDs, you wont go wrong buying this one.

I don't know about this bootleg, but I bought the recently-released (and expensive) version on RCA and the sound is terrible: there is clipping everywhere and everything is muddled together. Listening to the Flowermaidens was torture. I don't know why this is--other Wiener Staatsoper recordings from this period (e.g. Die Frau ohne Schatten, also with Karajan and Ludwig, on DG) sound much better. Grammophone waxed idyllic about this Parsifal without mentioning the severe sonic shortcomings. It does seem to be a good performance underneath all the distortion. I can't believe the Vienna engineers would have made such a lousy recording--perhaps the tapes were poorly stored or damaged. Maybe this cheaper version is better, if it was taken off a live radio feed.