Wagner: Parsifal - Uhl, Ludwig, Höngen, Hotter, Wächter, Berry, Janowitz, Güden; Karajan. Wien, 1961

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The conceit of this production is that it uses two different Kundrys, Christa Ludwig in the Flower Garden scene and Elisabeth Höngen in all the other scenes. Ludwig is red-hot in her Act II scene; (Perhaps the decision to split the role was made to allow her the ability to husband her resources for when it really counts.)
As Gurnemanz, Hans Hotter creates a fully realized, three-dimension character beyond the "kindly old man" trope that so many of his colleagues have leaned on over the years. His rebuke of Parsifal at the end of Act I is particularly chilling and hints at the fact that Gurnemanz is as human as everyone else.
As Amfortas, Eberhard Wächter conveys viriitilty as well as visceral suffering.
The ensemble of Flower Maidens assembled for this production, including Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Güden, Anneliese Rothenberger and Biserka Cvejic, is about as good as it gets.
In the 60s any time Karajan conducted an opera it was a major event and this evening was no exception. He brings a transparent quality to the score as well as insisting on clear rhythms and articulation from the cast.