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Wagner: Parsifal by Hans Knappertsbusch (2023 Remastered, Bayreuth 1962)

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Editorial reviews

Wagner: Parsifal

Hans Knappertsbusch (2023 Remastered , Bayreuth 1962)

4 disc(s) - 44 track(s)
Total length: 04:09:23

 

In the time of Richard Wagner, lyric opera was largely oriented toward entertainment. With Parsifal, Wagner endowed the theater with a dignity and expressive force comparable to that of ancient Greek drama. Parsifal is a liturgy, and the work presents itself as such, even including the ritual—desired by Wagner himself—that forbids applause at the end of the first act. Wagnerians regard the work as a kind of Mass, and its subtitle is in fact “sacred stage festival play” (Bühnenweihfestspiel).

Whether or not one is receptive to the Wagnerian “religion,” one cannot remain indifferent to the musical grandeur and the expressive depth of the architecture unfolded in Parsifal. Hans Knappertsbusch long appeared as a guardian of the temple—and the word “temple” is used deliberately here, since Wagner originally conceived Parsifal solely for Bayreuth, that temple erected to his glory and deemed the only place worthy of such a celebration. One must acknowledge that an added emotion seizes anyone who hears Parsifal in the very theater for which it was conceived.

Naturally, rather than a studio recording, a live performance from Bayreuth is preferable to any other—and the 1962 performance, conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch, is among the most monumental achievements. It is also one of the last times Knappertsbusch took the podium to conduct Parsifal after more than a decade of reign.

Hans Knappertsbusch (who wrote a thesis on the role of Kundry) is indeed the great interpreter of Parsifal in Bayreuth. His interpretations of Wagner are marked by a majestic, reverent solemnity and belong directly to the tradition of the old school of the Bayreuth veteran Hans Richter, under whom the young Knappertsbusch served as assistant conductor at the Bayreuth Festivals between 1910 and 1912. His conducting is characterized by very slow, solemn tempi that create a sacralized atmosphere rising to a kind of mystical radiance.

In this drama of suffering and asceticism, everything in this recording feels like an ultimate culmination: Wagner’s final work, and the final performances of unique artists in roles they marked forever (Hotter, London, Neidlinger). This “old guard,” like the aged squire Gurnemanz, surrounds and initiates into the sacred mystery two young American artists who in no way detract from such an ensemble (notably the deeply moving Parsifal of Jess Thomas). The choruses, which play a crucial role here, are truly exceptional and absolutely sumptuous. One cannot fail to be struck by the grandeur of this Parsifal. It is the only version of this opera I have listened to in a single sitting without once being able to pull myself away from my seat. I wish you the same kind of metaphysical experience.

Enjoy your listening

Track listing

CD 1
I. Parsifal: Vorspiel - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
II. Parsifal: He! Ho! Waldhüter ihr (Gurnemanz, Ritter) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
III. Parsifal: Seht dort, die wilde Reiterin (Knappen, Ritter, Kundry, Gurnemanz) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IV. Parsifal: Recht so! Habt Dank! Ein wenig Rast (Amfortas, Ritter, Gurnemanz) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
V. Parsifal: Nicht Dank! Haha! Was wird es helfen? (Kundry, Knappen, Gurnemanz) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VI. Parsifal: O wunden-wundervoller heiliger Speer (Gurnemanz, Knappen) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VII. Parsifal: Titurel, der fromme Held (Gurnemanz, Knappen) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VIII. Parsifal: Weh! - Hoho! - Auf! - Wer ist der Frevler? (Knappen, Ritter, Gurnemanz, Parsifal) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IX. Parsifal: Nun sag'! Nichts weisst du, was ich dich frage (Gurnemanz, Parsifal, Kundry) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)

CD 2
I. Parsifal: Vom Bade kehrt der König heim (Gumemanz, Parsifal) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
II. Parsifal: Verwandlungsmusik, Transformation Music - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
III. Parsifal: Nun achte wohl und lass mich seh'n - Zum letzten Liebesmahle (Gurnemanz, Chor) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IV. Parsifal: Mein Sohn Amfortas, bist du am Amt? (Titurel, Amfortas) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
V. Parsifal: Wehvolles Erbe, dem ich verfallen (Amfortas, Chor) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VI. Parsifal: Enthüllet den Gral (Titurel, Chor) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VII. Parsifal: Wein und Brot des letzten Mahles (Chor) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VIII. Parsifal: Auszug der Ritter (Gurnemanz, Altsolo, Chor) - Act 1 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IX. Parsifal: Vorspiel - Die Zeit ist da (Klingsor) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
X. Parsifal: Ach! Tiefe Nacht! - Furchtbare Not (Kundry, Klingsor) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
XI. Parsifal: Ho! Ihr Wächter! Ho! Ritter! (Klingsor) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
XII. Parsifal: Hier war das Tosen! (Blumenmädchen, Parsifal) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)

CD 3
I. Parsifal: Komm, holder Knabe! (Blumenmädchen, Parsifal) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
II. Parsifal: Parsifal! Weile! (Kundry, Parsifal, Blumenmädchen) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
III. Dies alles hab' ich nun geträumt? (Parsifal, Kundry) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IV. Parsifal: Ich sah das Kind an seiner Mutter Brust! (Kundry) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
V. Parsifal: Wehe! Was tat ich? Wo war ich? (Parsifal, Kundry) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VI. Parsifal: Amfortas! Die Wunde! (Parsifal, Kundry) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VII. Parsifal: Grausamer! Fühlst du im Herzen - Ich sah ihn (Kundry, Parsifal) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VIII. Parsifal: Vergeh, unseliges Weib! (Parsifal, Kundry, Klingsor) - Act 2 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IX. Parsifal: Vorspiel - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
X. Parsifal: Von dorther kam das Stöhnen (Gurnemanz, Kundry) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)

CD 4
I. Parsifal: Heil dir, mein Gast! (Gurnemanz) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
II. Parsifal: Heil mir, dass ich dich wiederfinde! (Parsifal, Gurnemanz) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
III. Parsifal: Zu ihm, des tiefe Klagen (Parsifal, Gurnemanz) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IV. Parsifal: O Herr! War es ein Fluch (Gurnemanz, Parsifal) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
V. Parsifal: Nicht so! Die heil'ge Quelle selbst (Gurnemanz, Parsifal) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VI. Parsifal: Gesegnet sei, du Reiner, durch das Reine! (Gurnemanz, Parsifal) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VII. Parsifal: Wie dünkt mich doch die Aue - Karfreitagszauber, Good Friday Music (Parsifal, Gurnemanz) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
VIII. Parsifal: Du siehst, das ist nicht so (Gurnemanz, Parsifal) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
IX. Parsifal: Mittag. Die Stund' ist da (Gurnemanz) - Verwandlungsmusik, Transformation Music - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
X. Parsifal: Geleiten wir im bergenden Schrein (Chor) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
XI. Parsifal: Ja, Wehe! Weh' über mich! - Enthüllet den Gral (Amfortas, Chor) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
XII. Parsifal: Nur eine Waffe taugt (Parsifal) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)
XIII. Parsifal: Höchsten Heiles Wunder (Chor) - Act 3 (Remastered 2023, Bayreuth 1962)

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