Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Daniel Barenboim, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Wagner: Parsifal (Highlights)

Great Music, Good Performance, Problematic Recording Job

Timothy Dougal | Madison, Wi United States | 11/22/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"On one hand, it is a relief to finally have vocal and orchestral highlights of "Parsifal" on a well-filled, 76 minute CD, since it is not often that I have 4 1/2 hours to spend listening to a single work. The performance, led by Daniel Barenboim is a good one, serene, rapturous and intense. But don't listen to this disc on your headphones, because there are many sonic annoyances mixed in with the great music. Despite the fact that this recording was made over a period of months in Jesus-Christus Kirche, the site of many legendary recording sessions, the sound is rather bland and faraway and there are many thumps, gasps and miscellaneous noises, such as Barenboim's unfortunately customary, periodic, orgasmic groaning! Does he think this enhances the music, or is music? Does he know there's a microphone on? Hello, Daniel: you're making rude, annoying noise, and disturbing your audience. Until DG or Decca sees fit to issue highlights of this opera, this disc is the only game in town."