Wagner: Parsifal - King, Ludwig, Crass, Stewart, Ridderbusch, Nienstedt, Mödl, Silja, Dernesch, Moll; Boulez. Bayreuth, 1967

$16.95

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Christa Ludwig's Kundry is fierce, tender, sultry and fragile. A truly remarkable portrayal and vocally flawless.
James King's virile tenor made him one of the best exponents of the title role.
Franz Crass sings Gurnemanz' monologues with great dignity and Thomas Stewart's anguished Amfortas nearly steals the show.
As was often the case in Bayreuth the the 60s, the smaller roles are stocked with great singers including Karl Ridderbusch as Titurel, Anja Silja and Helga Dernesch as flowermaidens, Kurt Moll as a Knight, and Martha Mödl as the Alto solo at the end of Act I.
Pierre Boulez' interpretation is on the swifter side, but no where nears as fast as it would become in some of the following seasons.