Wagner

Parsifal (Extended Excerpts)

Hering, Shuard, von Rohr, Godfrey; Maag
Marseille, 1968

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Parsifal (Extended Excerpts)

Karl-Josef Hering brings supreme lyricism and purity of tone to the title role of Parsifal, capturing the spiritual innocence that anchors the drama. Amy Shuard balances ferocity and seduction in a vivid portrayal of Kundry, while the real revelation of the evening is the exquisite conducting of Peter Maag, who draws radiant textures and organic pacing from the orchestra. The only drawback is the mic placement, which seems to have been backstage, causing the offstage chorus and the bells of Montsalvat to occasionally overwhelm the principal action.

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Extended Excerpts Worth Hearing!

Here are the extended excerpts:Act 1, s.1 - from Gurnemanz's "Jetzt auf, ihr Knaben" to the Transition music with a snippet missing as Parsifal attacks Kundry; Act 1, s.2 - from Titurel's "Mein Sohn" to the end of the act.Act 2, s.2 - from just before Kundry's "Parsifal! Weile!" to the end of Act 2.Act 3, s.1- from Gurnemanz's monologue after Parsifal 's entrance to the Transition music (all of the Good Friday music is present);Act 3, s.2 - from Amfortas' monologue to the end of the opera.Shuard is superb, both vocally and dramatically. Her laugh at "Die Törin!" in Act 1 is deliciously witchy. Her Kundry is angry, the bitterness vividly communicated. As a soprano, she has no difficulty with the high tessitura at the end of Act 2. She is also one of the few Kundrys who follows Wagner's stage directions and shrieks as Klingsor's power is destroyed. Would that the Klingsor scene had been preserved as well!Hering is a strong Parsifal with a lovely voice: whatever happened to him? Von Rohr is past his vocal prime, but is still effective and Godfrey is a believable Amfortas.The sound, probably recorded from the stage manager's box (we hear him give directions to the chorus), is clear with voices closer than the orchestra. The children's chorus at the end of Act 1 sings in French.For fans of the singers and conductor.
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