Parsifal Orchestral Souvenir
J. Bevan | Mansfield, TX USA | 06/08/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The reason to buy this is because of the Parsifal music. This "synthesis" (as Stokowski would have called it 70+ years ago) is a continuous piece of music which gives the listener a wonderful -- and fairly comprehensive -- sampling of Wagner's last completed opera. It attempts to do what Stokowski did "back then." But, as far as Parsifal is concerned, it is done more completely than Stokowski because Stokowski really only covered Act III. Vlieger integrates the whole work into his very successful synthesis. It is more than a patchwork of themes. It is a very enjoyable "journey" through Wagner's most challenging work. The sound is Chandos superb -- which is a high standard. In many ways, Chandos is to Britain what Telarc is to the USA.
I have three complete Parsifals and all of the Stokowski sytheses -- in 78 and in modern sound. This is a recording I will listen to frequently.
I WISH Amazon would bring out the companion "Ring Adventure" as an MP3 download."
Wagner would have liked this version of Parsifal
Classical Curiosities | Canton, OH, USA | 06/28/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Composer Henk de Vlieger has thus given us three Wagner CDs of "Opera ohne Worte," first with "Der Ring," next with "Tristan und Isolde," and again with "Parsifal." All three have been previously released on RCA with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic under Edo de Waart, and fine recordings they are, every one of them, except for the repugnant covers. (What were they thinking?) For listeners out there who love orchestral music but are lukewarm on opera--especially Wagnerian opera--these are well worth having. "Der Ring" was previously arranged and recorded by Loren Maazel, and de Vlieger's version differs only slightly, but I must admit that both versions disappoint me. There's just too much good music in the four operas to be condensed down to a mere hour, fulfilling the arranger's obsession to give us a continuous, unterrupted flow of music. Why not rethink it as a kind of four-movement symphonic arrangement? Thus, among other things, we can salvage the spectacular finale of "Das Rheingold,' which is lost in the swift transition into "Die Walkure." "Tristan" and Parsifal" fare better in the two subsequent arrangements. Neemi Jarvi pays tribute to de Vlieger's passionate arrangement of Parsifal by recording it anew with the forces of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. While the sound of this ensemble is lush and hypnotic, I felt at once that Jaarvi's tempo was generally a bit too fast so that cumulatively, he comes in about ten minutes under de Waart's more leisurely version. Wagner would have liked this version of Parsifal, since it appears that he felt his operas should move along at a pace. Of course, this leave some room on the disk for a couple of added selections, the "Overture and Venusberg Ballet Scene from Tannhauser" (Vienna 1875 perf.) and the Prelude to the third Act of "Lohengrin." So if you like your Parsifal up-tempo, this is the one for you, plus the bonus tracks. And the cover is a lot more attractive, and appropriate.
And if you have enjoyed these Wagnerian "Opera ohne Worte" artrangements by Henk de vlieger, be on the lookout for his "Die Meistersinger" (yes, really!)soon to be released,along with two Wagner rarieties, the two "Entre-actes Tragiques" fragments the composer's early days."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1