Search - Herbert von Karajan, Eberhard Waechter, Hans Hotter :: Wagner: Parsifal / Karajan, Waechter, Hotter, Franc, et al

A good solid performance

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 10/27/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"BMG is now reissuing not only a good deal of its operas that used to grace the LP-laden shelves of music stores back in the 60s and 70s but also little heard "live" performances. From the latter series come two with Herbert von Karajan at the helm. Although I usually object to the audiences noises that usually accompany such offerings, it is not a problem here. A complete (74321 61950 2) is not exactly an operaphile's first choice--a good deal of it is frankly very boring--and indeed many do not consider it an opera at all (neither did Wagner). At any rate, the audience (if not the footfalls of the cast) is very quiet during this 1961 performance at the Vienna State Opera. And with such luminaries as Eberhard Waechter, Hans Hotter, and Walter Berry in the cast, one can forgive the dated mono sound. Fritz Uhl sings the title role with somewhat less dramatic distinction than did Windgassen but he is fine on his own terms. A Very Good Choice for those who love Wagner, this opera, or the conductor. I will play this album mostly for the cast. On 4 CDs it takes a good deal of concentrated listening and there is no libretto provided."

A disappointing reissue of the 1961 live recording

Derrick Everett | 12/11/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."

A good Parsifal

Liveliza Barnes | Surrey BC Canada | 11/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."