Prom 57 - 25.08.13: Wagner – Parsifal

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

4.30pm – c. 10.10pm

The Hallé and Mark Elder perform Wagner's final opera Parsifal live at the BBC Proms, with Lars Cleveman in the title role and Katarina Dalayman as Kundry.

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Wagner: Parsifal - Act 1 (concert performance, sung in German)

6:00pm Interval 1

7:00pm
Wagner: Parsifal - Act 2

8:45pm Interval 2

9:20pm
Wagner: Parsifal - Act 3

Parsifal ..... Lars Cleveman (tenor)
Kundry ..... Katarina Dalayman (mezzo-soprano)
Gurnemanz ..... John Tomlinson (bass)
Amfortas ..... Iain Paterson (baritone)
Klingsor ..... Tom Fox (bass)
Titurel ..... Reinhard Hagen (bass)
Voice from above ..... Madeleine Shaw (mezzo-soprano)
Knights ..... Robert Murray (tenor); Andrew Greenan (bass)
Flowermaidens ..... Elizabeth Cragg (soprano); Anita Watson (soprano); Sarah Castle (mezzo-soprano); Ana James (soprano); Anna Devin (soprano); Madeleine Shaw (mezzo-soprano)
Squires ..... Sarah Castle (mezzo-soprano); Madeleine Shaw (mezzo-soprano); Joshua Ellicott (tenor); Andrew Rees (tenor)
Trinity Boys Choir
Royal Opera Chorus
Hallé Youth Choir
The Hallé
Mark Elder (conductor)

Sir Mark Elder, Music Director of the Hallé, conducts them in Parsifal, Wagner's final music drama, an exploration of the value of compassion. The Knights of the Holy Grail face devastation: the sorcerer Klingsor, whom they rejected, has dealt their King Amfortas a wound that never heals. Their only hope lies in a prophecy that their salvation could come through 'a pure fool, made wise by compassion' - is Parsifal the man?

[ostuni]

Prom 57 - Parsifal

A long way ahead, I know, but having just booked a ticket, I'm wondering about eating opportunities. There's a 50-min interval after Act 1, so time to eat then - but none of the cafe/restaurant/bar options on the RAH site seem to be offering interval food booking. Any thoughts?

[gurnemanz]

Bread and wine?

[Also just booked]

[Beef Oven]

A long way ahead, I know, but having just booked a ticket, I'm wondering about eating opportunities. There's a 50-min interval after Act 1, so time to eat then - but none of the cafe/restaurant/bar options on the RAH site seem to be offering interval food booking. Any thoughts?

Packed lunch. Cheese and tomato sandwich, Mars Bar, apple, tin of Tizer -sorted.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Parsifal threads now merged.

[bluestateprommer]

Thread bump and Forum calendar update to reflect that Iain Paterson has unfortunately pulled out of the Parsifal Prom. IP's replacement as Amfortas is Detlef Roth.

(PS: Does anyone really read the Forum calendar entries? I ask partly out of self-interest, but also because I inadvertently had some mistakes there that no one besides me caught.)

[DracoM]

http://www.wagneropera.net/Interviews/Detlef-Roth-Interview-2010.htm

Interesting interview with Detlef Roth.

[Flosshilde]

Bread and wine?

[Also just booked]

Or roast swan.

I shall listen (if I get back from a trip to Edinburgh in time, & don't go to see this film - http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/w...ut_in_the_dark), but John Tomlinson as Gurnemanz is a serious turn-off so I wouldn't mind if I missed the first half hour (or even hour) of Act 1.

[Resurrection Man]

......but John Tomlinson as Gurnemanz is a serious turn-off so I wouldn't mind if I missed the first half hour (or even hour) of Act 1.

As I listen I can see exactly what you mean. Beautiful playing by the Halle and Sir Mark but Tomlinson....I see he belongs to the 'if I waiver my pitch enough then I will hit the right note at least some of the time'.....ghastly.

[mlb7171]

If the Halle and Mark Elder is the best the BBC can manage for Parsifal, then we might as well have another Manchester team player...

[Bert Coules]

...but Tomlinson....I see he belongs to the 'if I waiver my pitch enough then I will hit the right note at least some of the time'.....ghastly.

I rather doubt that he's doing it deliberately.

[mlb7171]

On that basis they could have engaged me to play first trombone. "Sorry, didn't quite get that bit right".

[Flosshilde]

I rather doubt that he's doing it deliberately.

No, I don't suppose he is - which makes it even worse. I heard him in the ENO's last production & it was awful. Surely there comes a time when even the greatest singer has to recognise that certain roles are beyond them? Dame Janet retired when she felt that she no longer had the stamina - I think JT needs to learn to say 'no'.

But in the last ten minutes or so that I caught the orchestra were superb.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If the Halle and Mark Elder is the best the BBC can manage for Parsifal, then we might as well have another Manchester team player...

Steady on! Calling an Oswaldtwistine a Manchunian has consequences not dissimilar to those of calling an Orangutan a monkey.

[DracoM]

I have to say Tomlinson was a laboured, hit and miss trial to listen to.

I had the score in front of me and his approximations must have given Elder series of nasty ongoing frights. The Titurel who is supposed to be almost dead was made to sound like a teen compared to this Gurnemanz. Oh dear. And the band are doing so well. Choruses EXCELLENT, including the kids, Magic moments so far. But with JT in Act 3, it's going to be another rough ride.

At least the Parsifal has got all the notes so should be OK in the final Grail scene.