First premiered in 1882, Wagner s last music-drama, Parsifal, was performed at Covent Garden for the first time in 1951. The opera still had a reputation, separate from Wagner s other works, of being pretentious, religiose... more » and above all, slow. Then in 1952 Decca published the first complete recording made at performances given the year before at the reopening of the Bayreuth Festival under Hans Knappertsbusch. That recording made an immense impression, partly because the sound was so staggering, and partly because Parsifal revealed itself to its many skeptics as a work of overwhelming beauty, depth and humanity. This Covent Garden recording featuring Rudolf Kempe follows on Testament s notable release of the conductor s Ring from 1957. Made two years later and featuring a solid cast of soloists, this probing reading will be a must-have for Wagner enthusiasts.« less
First premiered in 1882, Wagner s last music-drama, Parsifal, was performed at Covent Garden for the first time in 1951. The opera still had a reputation, separate from Wagner s other works, of being pretentious, religiose and above all, slow. Then in 1952 Decca published the first complete recording made at performances given the year before at the reopening of the Bayreuth Festival under Hans Knappertsbusch. That recording made an immense impression, partly because the sound was so staggering, and partly because Parsifal revealed itself to its many skeptics as a work of overwhelming beauty, depth and humanity. This Covent Garden recording featuring Rudolf Kempe follows on Testament s notable release of the conductor s Ring from 1957. Made two years later and featuring a solid cast of soloists, this probing reading will be a must-have for Wagner enthusiasts.
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1