@@TwinsunianT Thank you so much! I think this is the most important recording of this masterpiece, not only for the beauty itself but for the cast that interprets it, especially Hans Sotin
My father died last week, and he loved this opera and Wagner in general. How a first-born son who should have been a farmer in Iowa decides he's going to leave home, marry a Polish woman he met in Paris, become a French professor and an opera fanatic is beyond me, but he did. He was soooo different from the other dads in Oklahoma, but now I appreciate him enormously. Thank god he spent one week alone in NYC at the Met attending a Wagner marathon. It was the only time he spent money on himself. His mother sat on millions in farmland and didn't cash out, leaving it for six kids. My parents died within one year of each other and never got to spend that inheritance on anything "fun." So I am going to live the fudge out of my life in their honor. I'm not worthy of it, but life isn't fair. Who knows, I may not have long either. One never knows. I love you, Daddy (and Mommy, who attended all the operas except for the 6 hour ones...) Be good to your "annoying," "boring," and "weird" parents who are frugal and responsible.
Quintessence -- Same here: Dad from Poltava-Harbin-Paris Sorbonne. Successful chemist-inventor. Now I'm 75...ended up happy in San Agustinillo, Oaxaca! You?
I'm new to Parsifal, but I've come back to this particular production more than a dozen times and listened to it in its entirety. The ever-turning shadings of this music so often bruise the heart but even so, there is pleasure in the heart having been seen, recognized, and transcribed.
From a musicians family I knew from it quite early in my life, but it all was nothing compared to sitting in the Bayreuth Festival opera myself listening to it when I was just 18 ----- the acoustics there is just breathtakingly amazing -- the best in the world for Wagners music for sure --- better than the best Multi-billion high-end system would ever be. it moves you like a tremendous avalanche indeed !!!
It's Wagner's last and least well known. Wagner's other operas contain plots with characters who act out extraordinary, yet human deeds. IMHO, Wagner's other operas contain plots and characters who act out extraordinary, yet human deeds. Parsifal is Wagner's murkiest work, full of mysteries and Christian symbolism and rites- the knights of the holy grail, the spear that pierced Christ's side. Non-Christian stuff as well, magic spells, murdered swans, a holy fool "made wise through compassion". A witch who does good deeds out of compassion for the the knights and their king yet claims she does no good and helps nobody. You're not the only one who arrives late for the feast.
I was totally bummed after watching a train wreck Parsifal by the Dutch, and then next day, THIS pops up and all is right with the world. And with HORST STEIN, our beloved and unique director in Hamburg! And with many of the same voices I heard there in '81-'82 while singing in the "Sonderchor" for that production. Oh, the memories! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
What a ridiculous and pointless statement to make! All over RU-vid I read declarations that here is the finest pianist and there we have the most wonderful symphony etc. Why impose your estimation on others. Parsifal is boring to me, and Wagner was such a vile, profligate egomaniac that his music cannot be moving.
How much I appreciate the classical staging of the operas! The singers are fantastic, but also they have the "physique du role" and the staging only helps us to understand what wanted Wagner communicate? Back to the roots of the Theater, and thank you so much for positing that, You are great Twinsunian.
Amazing... In act two when Klingsor summons Kundry and she appears suddenly is just chilling... I literally startled and my heart almost stopped! Loved the first act so far... Amazing production!
Love Leif Roar, here as Klingsor! His Amfortas was wonderful too (heard it live more than once) and he was a wonderful Holländer. Amazing voice and amazing stage presence.
"Du, Kundry?" and so on... 26:13 Amfortas' gratitude towards Kundry may be one of my (many) favorite moments of Parsifal, even though its just a small part of the opera.
I agree, it’s a small but beautiful melody. I have sung Kundry and could not enjoy it too much, as I had to concentrate and cut in suddenly with my jarring lines 😂
My 'go-to' version at the moment - enjoying at Easter - thank you so much for putting on youtube - Parsifal is like a warm bath of spirituality and I feel very much cleansed from experiencing it.
Je viens juste de commencer et ne connais encore rien de cette émission, mais le fait que Siegfried Jérusalem chante Parsifal, me dit tout, ce sera une émission superbe. Et j'ai eu raison, merci pour ce Parsifal et son compositeur. Quel chef d'oeuvre!!
... eine aufs Wesentliche konzentrierte mustergültige Inszenierung, mit besten Solisten; vom unvergessenen bedeutenden Horst Stein, einem der großen Bayreuther Dirigenten, mit Herzblut interpretiert.
@@daniel3231995 What, you "like" Wagner and you don't even know that Parsifal is based on Percival, the knight if King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail? That even without knowing that, you're too fucking plank to follow a story that's even simpler than a normal movie for 30 minutes? Then you don't have the presence of mind to learn to read or, look it up or anything, you just come in here and call the really simple story "heavy", that you have the concentration-span of a gnat and don't know what the fuck is going on? What laughing stocks you all are.
I agree with Claude Debussy who thought the characters and plot ludicrous, but nevertheless in 1903 wrote that musically it was "[i]ncomparable and bewildering, splendid and strong. "Parsifal" is one of the loveliest monuments of sound ever raised to the serene glory of music." He knew what he was saying.
BRAVO! YOU SEE! The drama of redemption lies in Parsifals rejection of Kundry, who symbolizes earth bound sensuality. All others fall prey to her CHARMS. Reminds me of Faust's posthumous declaration, " Hard to save whom lust bespake, weak before his fire, who in single strength can break, chains of dark desire? So the foot will swiftly slip, on the slant way gliding, heart the fool of eye and lip, in soft words confiding. "
@@paulybarr Good question Paul. It is an age old problem. A spiritual ATTITUDE must resist the DOWNWARD tendency of the Souls INCLINATION to body bound desires, or DESIRES OF THE FLESH. AS THE BUDDHA case has shown, NEGATION of this biological drive was indispensable to his enlightenment. Properly speaking this drive does not belong to a man's ego function, but rather to his SOUL COMPLEX. NATURALLY, a man will see this function as something outside of himself. ie. In a woman who excites his desires. Never realizing that she is nothing more than a projection from his own Unconscious. For this reason Jungian psychology teaches that she must be withdrawn from external reality. ie. From projection. In this way she is brought inwards and becomes a function of relationship between the inner man and his inner world. No longer can she dance the ILLUSION OF EXISTENCE, because she has been seen through. This has favorable results both for the Adept and his soul, for they both experience their redemption. Indeed the whole kingdom is healed. Klingsor loses the MYSTICAL spear, ( phallic symbol ) and his demonic influence over Kundry. The latter is REDEEMED and shows Mary Magdalene behavior. The entire Kingdom is healed as the spear is returned to the holy vessel or Grail. And this is the KEY. It's all SYMBOLIC. MEANING, The so called " sexual union " ie. Spear and Grail is in fact a union of opposites ,spirit and soul, masculine and feminine, dark and light, YIN AND YANG. It is an intrapsyhic union, which can never happen until the EROTIC complex is withdrawn from projection. This requires decades, a lifetime of commitment to internalization, withdrawal from the worldly affairs and distractions that beset the common man. This is the true path to enlightenment, requiring a JOURNEY into those, " untroddable untreadable" ( Goethe's Faust) regions of the human psyche where none may dare. Unless, of course you are Faust Willing to brave the dark descent into the underworld, where PRIMAL forces seething with madness hold away, ensuring the same control over humanity since DAY one. Naturally, the surface dwelling folk no nothing of such matters, but are ever @ prey to their chaotic and destructive influence as the present state clearly reveals. " HAVE A NICE DAY "
Amfortas:Bernd Weikl Titurel: Matti Salminen Gurnemanz: Hans Sotin Parsifal: Siegfried Jerusalem Klingsor: Leif Roar Kundry: Eva Randová 1st Knight of the Grail: Toni Krämer 2nd Knight of the Grail: Heinz Klaus Ecker 1st Squire: Marga Schiml 2nd Squire: Hanna Schwarz 3rd Squire: Helmut Pampuch 4th Squire: Martin Egel Flower Maidens: Norma Sharp, Carol Richardson, Hanna Schwarz, Mari-Anne Häggender, Marga Schiml, Margit Neubauer Alto Solo: Hanna Schwarz
Thank you so much for sharing this unique performance, with English subs also. All the performers are German and they sing very clearly, a quite rare phenomenon in Opera nowadays, except when it is Italian. I think Wagner himself would have approved greatly - staging, costumes, interpretation, everything. I envy the people who attended, live!! Which year is this performance?
Actually not all the singers are German. Matti Salminen (who sings Titurel) is Finnish, Leif Roar (who sings Klingsor) is Danish and Eva Randova (who sings Kundry) is Czech. But definitely a great performance!
Non trovo parole x descrivere come sento e vivo la musica del Parsifal in questo momento in cui il Covid è globale. La musica del Parsifal mi penetra nel profondo e mi scuote dalle zone più nascoste. Nel Parsifal sento una possente Energia cosmica dalla quale posso percepire la grandezza l'ampiezza la maestosità divina. Eternamente grata a Wagner x questa sua sacralità. 🙏🌎💫🎶🎵
I have never attended to a live performance of this opera, though I've listened to many records and videos of it. This opera is way more than an opera to me, it has changed the way I see the world ( guess all works of art do it somehow) hope if I ever have the chance to see a live performance of it I won't be too prone to comparisons to the most acclaimed ones
El meu pare deia que Die Walkure era la millor opera de Wagner fins que va escoltar Parsifal. Llavors va dubtar quina era la millor. Tenia raó. Quina música més excepcional!!!!
Wagner was in touch with a higher power that only he knew. There’s nothing in music that can compare to the humanity that this work touches upon. I’m sorry the Met is skipping it this year again.
Magicians who castrate themselves for their powers. "Here, time becomes space." Wha'? So murky and difficult to understand. Yet that is exactly what I like about it. Here there is knowledge that passes all understanding and every time I watch Act I (IMO, the best part.) I seek understanding. Understanding is what drives the drama, for me.
I wonder what Hitler might have fantasized about (Wagner's) Parsifal and himself. Anyway, it is nice to watch a Wagner (or any other opera, for that matter) without ludicrous modernistic staging. English subtitle is nice, too.
How could Hitler have misinterpreted this beauty to such degree. When I listen I just want to embrace the entire world with love in my heart and God bless the Jews and save them and protect them you God.
the work has several successes, such as the transformation of the music but above all, the end of the second act, really good. However, the end of the third act is truly regrettable, they have blatantly ignored the leitmotiv of Kundry's death. That's not in the original script
Can someone more knowleadgeble explain why is this production only 3 hours and 52 minutes when the length of the opera is 4 hours and 15 minutes. What is missing here? I'd like to know that I don't see some kind of abridged version to meet some censorship criterion...
Conductor's tempi vary greatly in this work with the extremes being Boulez (fast) and Levine (though I've heard that Toscanini's performances may have been even slower).
Actually, Hitler attempted to make perverted use of anything that he could in furtherance of his bitter ends. He had really no use for Christ or His religion except that it might help seduce his nation. I’m pretty sure that Wagner would have rejected the Nazis.
@@ewmbr1164 Nein, ich meine die Personen in seinen Opern haben gar keine psychologische Tiefe, ich finde sie einfach naiv und kindisch. Diesbezüglich bin ich mit Wagner sehr enttäuscht. Ich erinnere an meinen Gedanken als ich zum ersten mal Parsifal gelesen habe: "Das muss ein Scherz sein. Bin ich der Tor oder ist dieses Libretto ziemlich blöd." Nur meine meinung. Na ja für eine shakespearische psychologische Tiefe müsste eine Oper wahrscheinlich 10 Stunden dauern, oder sogar länger, oder?
Keep coming back here, so I'm just gonna make this list. My favorite moments: 1:56 Prelude 13:32 The squire's prayer 21:14 Amfortas' dream 26:13 Amofrtas' gratitude 37:02 Gurnemanz talks about the legend of Titurel 48:01 Gurnemanz scolds Parsifal and talks about the swan 59:43 Gurnemanz invites Parsifal to the Grail rite* 1:01:30 Verwandlungsmusik (Transformation music)* 1:05:58 The entrance of the knights* 1:12:29 Amofrtas cries out for forgiveness 1:30:20 Communion* 1:58:38 Flower maidens try to seduce Parsifal 2:03:41 Kundry reminds Parsifal of his name 2:41:28 Parsifal takes the holy spear from Klingsor 2:44:26 Act III Prelude 2:49:43 Gurnemanz discovers and wakes Kundry* 2:54:40 Love this short part in the orchestra 3:01:12 + 3:05:40 Gurnemanz recognizes the holy spear 3:17:50 Good Friday Spell* 3:19:32 Parsifal baptizes Kundry 3:26:06 Don't have words, this is too beautiful...* 3:33:33 Titurel's funeral march* 3:44:08 Parsifal heals Amfortas with the spear 3:47:36 Finale*
@@omairagamboa7821 es la música más hermosa sin duda, es lo mejor que he oído en mi vida yo creo, en cuanto a mis gustos personales al menos. De parsifal el viernes santo y el interludio es lo más hermoso, lo amo tanto, para mi es sagrada esta obra, daría mi vida por ella.
This is the best, most mystical and profoundly touching music human ear can hear. I my life I had the honor of seeing Parsifal live and despite the fact that staging was mediocre at best, it was an experience that will be forever imprinted in me. No words can describe the final angelic voice coming from the top of opera house.
I had the same experience. When I was maybe 8 years my father took me to a Parsifal production in the opera house of Antwerp. It must have been at best a mediocre version but I am till now 50 years later captivated by the story and the music. I made a piano transcription of the most memorable moments from the orchestral score. The meaning of the story applies to...well, almost anything, everywhere and allways. Yes I heard about the postmodern BS version that was staged recently in the same opera house in Antwerp. I didn't see it.
I appreciate a Wagner opera that is well done in the classic style. In general, while there are some regietheaters that are interesting, many of them tend to shock just for the sake of novelty instead of because they have something of weight to say. The Met Opera 2013 regietheater Girard staging of Parsifal was one that was done very well and that left an impact on the audience as to the meaning of the symbolism that is at work in Wagner's opera. But for every regietheater that is a success there are many that bomb. I much prefer it when modern technology is put to use to make a traditional telling excellent. Projecting backgrounds to set a mood or to visualize something that would be too expensive to build as a set when doing the Ring is a great example of making a great opera even better. I can think of others such as using laser lighting effects on stage (kupfer did this to excellent effect), using dry ice fog machines, etc. Many creative things can be done within the parameters of a traditional staging to make it come alive. The Holy Grail as a visible 3d hologram floating in the air when it first appears is one thing that would be great.
How a human being could create music like this will always remain a miracle for me ! It takes you like in a rush , opening a completely new world in your mind...
A few years ago i took three tabs of acid and watched this as my high kicked in. Needless to say it was easily the best night of my life, Wagner's brilliance in music gave me such a profound spiritual experience, i was able to feel the mysticism of this production on a deeper level, since that night, Wagner's music of any kind touches the very depths of my soul.
There are so many great moments but around 2:30:54 I get goosebumps. Extraordinary harmonies and such gorgeous music intertwined with such pathos and deep philosophical meaning. Thank you Herr Wagner
this was the awesome version I heard played on BBC Radio 3 on Good Friday 1987. Wonderful to re discover it and actually be able to watch it on the big tv screen - although my wife has now walked out and hidden in the kitchen.
