Parsifal from Paris

[Chris Newman]

In case you are missing your Easter Parsifal, ArteLiveWeb has a televised concert version from Paris.

http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/L_Orchestre_de_France__le_Choeur__et_la_Maitrise_de_Radio_France_interpretent_Parsifal/

The cast, at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées under the baton of Daniele Gatti, is
Christopher Ventris (Parsifal),
Mihoko Fujimura (Kundry),
Kurt Rydl (Gurnemanz),
Lucio Gallo (Klingsor),
Detlef Roth (Amfortas),
Andreas Hörl (Titurel),
Michael Laurenz, Robert Jezierski (Knights),

Chœur de Radio France - Matthias Brauer (direction), Maîtrise de Radio France - Sofi Jeannin (direction)
Orchestre National de France,
Daniele Gatti

[DracoM]

VERY fine Act 1, Chris. Beautifully held together by Gatti, Rydl in his element, top drawer Amfortas, an excellent Kundry, chorus in terrific nick too, - AND real and very talented singing of the top line in the Grail scenes, thought like all heavenly choirs, they are totally unseen!! Interesting that the alto chorus lines are joint male / female, OR tenors falsettoing maybe with altos? Not an out of place or OTT vibrato in sight, BTW.

Will get round to Acts 2 and 3 later.

[DracoM]

Chris

Baffled: went for the act divisions suggested on screen and clicking on Act 3 takes us way into Act 3 past the start of the score. Did you find that, or did you listen to it in one go?

[Chris Newman]

Chris

Baffled: went for the act divisions suggested on screen and clicking on Act 3 takes us way into Act 3 past the start of the score. Did you find that, or did you listen to it in one go?

No, DracoM, I have only dipped into Act 1. I too, am impressed by the performance. Kurt Rydl (like Big John Tomlinson) manages by his nobility and acting to make us forgive the wobble of a 64 year old bass-baritone. Good simple fool from Chris Ventris.

[DracoM]

And the band are terrific, and Gatti has really got them communicating. Watching Act 3 now. Love Ventris's bleached out town - reminds me a bit of the wonderful Rene Kollo.

[gurnemanz]

Still just time (4pm start) to nip over to Birmingham for the Mariinsky. Great show - seats available. http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/good-fri...ucts-parsifal/

We saw it at the Barbican on Monday. Brief report here:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?1119-What-was-your-last-concert&p=147462#post147462

[DracoM]

And the band are terrific, and Gatti has really got them communicating. Watching Act 3 now. Love Ventris's bleached out town - reminds me a bit of the wonderful Rene Kollo.

All round impressive. Intense concentration. Gatti conducted throughout with real control - and no score!! Chorus a real object lesson. And the Maitrise de Paris were a super angelic top line.

APART from the total IDIOT who insisted on clapping loudly in the intense silence that followed both Act 1 and 3's final chords. Glad to say that he/she got roundly hissed for so doing and a grimace of displeasure from Gatti. Anyone taking bets it was one the Met stalwarts - not stereotyping, of course, but that is real Met behaviour.