Grabación muy buena.

Die mp3-Dateien wurden aus einer direkten Abnahme von Schallplatten erzeugt. Die Aufnahme der letzten beiden Akte waren über weite Strecken völlig zerkratzt. Der Kauf ist unbrauchbar.

A recording of Richard Wagner's "Parsifal" featuring and starring Jean Cox, Amy Shuard, Franz Crass, Thomas Stewart, Donald McIntyre etc., at Bayreuth (1968) and under Pierre Boulez's inspired baton cannot be but (almost) perfect. A must!

The sound on the CDs I received is so disappointing. The whole of Act 1 (discs 1 and 2) and the earlier parts of Act 2 (disc 3) sound murky and distant, the sound image favouring either the left (Act 1) or right (Act 2) channel and there is distortion in all but the quietest passages (usually in the channel not properly carrying the sound image). Act 3 on disc 4 is fine - just the odd blip like a bad tape join between tracks - until track 10, when the distortion reappears accompanied by jittering and a pause at the change from tracks 10 to 11. I tried the discs on another player with the same results. Comparing this experience to that of others reviewing this set here, I have to assume that the discs I received must be faulty. I have raised this with Opera Depot and await a response.

It is great recording. I like all singers, chorus and orchestra. I like Cox - he is very noble Parsifal and does a great job singing, the same goes for Shuard. Now I should not be surprised anymore. Before operadepot Cd's I knew only a few recorded arias by her. Now I can really enjoy this great dramatic soprano. Orchestra is great, sublime, energetic. It is real joy to listen to Orchestra de Bayreuther Festspiele under Boulez.

Great recording with fine soloists. After seeing Amy Shuard many times on stage it is great that her performances are turning up on CD, she is a most exciting Kundry and has the full range of the part, a true dramatic soprano. All the others are well known for their performances in their roles at Bayreuth and else where. Under the exciting direction of Boulez this is a recording to treasure.

This is one of the most thrilling Parsifal’s ever. Boulez’s interpretation has the majesty, beauty, delicacy and emotional power of this score at his fingertips and though his tempi are swift – even swifter than the commercial recording of two years later – it sounds completely natural as you listen – and the orchestral playing and choral singing are both magnificent. I think this is a finer performance than the 1970 version in which only James King is superior to the rather dry voiced, though perfectly adequate, Jean Cox. Much as I admire Gwyneth Jones, here Amy Shuard excels on all counts. Thrilling, fearless, full of character, and incredibly moving. Seeing that nowadays Kundry always seems to be sung by mezzos it is wonderful to hear a great soprano voice in the role. Wagner wrote it for a soprano who has a completely different timbre to a mezzo. The other truly outstanding performance is Franz Crass as Gurnemanz closely followed by Stewart and McIntyre. And what a line-up of solo flowermaidens. Even Kurt Moll stands out in a small role. Add to all this first rate recording quality – easily up to commercial standards – all Parsifal lovers should snap this up.