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| Label Challenge Classics |
UPC 0608917261929 |
Catalogue number CC 72619 |
Release date 05 May 2017 |
"Presiding over musical matters, conductor Ivan Fischer gives a beautifully measured reading of the score, with the aid of the estimable Concertgebouw Orchestra and the ethereal tones of the Dutch National Opera chorus."
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE, 18-5-2018Iván Fischer makes his DNO debut. He conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Pierre Audi, artistic director of DNO and the Holland Festival, directs his first new DNO production since Saint François d'Assise (2008). For Parsifal Audi once again joins forces with the British sculptor Anish Kapoor (décor). Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester previously sang the role of Amfortas at the Opéra National de Paris and the Bayreuther Festspiele. Kurt Rydl (Titurel/Klingsor) made previous DNO appearances as Hagen/Hunding in Der Ring des Nibelungen and as Heinrich in Lohengrin. Kurt Rydl has been an honorary member of the Wiener Staatsoper since 1999. Falk Struckmann has frequently sung the role of Amfortas, but now makes his first DNO appearance in his role debut as Gurnemanz. The title role is sung by Christopher Ventris, who previously appeared at DNO as Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer. Petra Lang (Kundry) previously sang Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde and Venus in Tannhäuser at DNO.
Operalively.com: There were no weak links in the cast. Amfortas sounded suitably pained, very wobbly vibrato for it, but this very much worked. Gurnemanz was stoic and powerful. Klingsor was a rounded and full bass. Kundry has a truly bewitching voice, very powerful. Parsifal was definitely the stand out, always rising above the orchestra, his voice conveyed each emotion perfectly but was always perfectly clear and pure. Ivan Fischer’s interpretation is calm, subdued, crystal clear, chamber-like. It is generally brisk, but extremely flexible, and follows Wagner’s tempo changes to the letter. Nonetheless, one cannot help but be carried along with the waves of music, so that the final chords are absolutely overwhelming. The Concertgebouw, characteristically played stupendously. Beautiful phrasing, incredibly unity, and they just sound so incredibly beautiful.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is one of the very best orchestras in the world. Time and time again, critics have lauded its unique sound, which clearly stands out among thousands of others. The RCO’s string section has been called ‘velvety’, the sound of the brass ‘golden’, the timbre of the woodwinds ‘distinctly personal’ and the percussion have an international reputation.
While the exceptional acoustics of the Concertgebouw, play an important role in this respect, the influence exerted on the orchestra by its chief conductors, of whom there have been only seven since the orchestra was founded in 1888, is also important. As is that of the musicians themselves. RCO Amsterdam is made up of 120 players hailing from over 20 countries. Despite its size, the orchestra actually functions more like a chamber orchestra.This requires both a high individual calibre and a great sense of mutual trust and confidence. The atmosphere onstage, the orchestra’s roots in Amsterdam and the organisational structure
all converge to create exactly the right circumstances for exceptional music-making. The musicians are allowed to shine, yet still share responsibility for the collective. They also share the aim of achieving and delivering the highest level of quality at every performance, an ambition that goes far beyond simply playing all the notes perfectly. This is how magic is made and a concert becomes a truly unforgettable experience.
Richard Wagner was an important innovator of music in his time. He is best known for his operas, which he himself preferred to refer to as musical dramas. He wrote the texts (the libretti) himself and sought to make a Gesamtkunstwerk, the ideal union of text, music and theatre. Over time, this lead to grandiose musical dramas which were performed in a specially built theater for these works in the small town of Bayreuth.
Wagner's greatest critic, the philosopher Nietzsche, named his former friend the "greatest miniaturist of music who in the smallest of space squeezed an endless amount of sense and sweetness". Nietzsche regarded this as a sympton of decadence, yet it does portray the large variety of treasures which can be found in Wagner's music: the mysterious fantasy stories of the love potion of Tristan & Isolde, Wotan's spear, the sea of flames of Brünhilde, the sword of Siegfried... Still the real main character is the orchestra, which shines its light on all the true intentions and feelings of these heroes with great depth.
Both as a composer and as an individual, Wagner remains a subject of controversy and emotional discussions. By many he is hailed as a hero, and by equally many others completely dismissed. But his influence as a composer and musical innovator is undeniable!
Presiding over musical matters, conductor Ivan Fischer gives a beautifully measured reading of the score, with the aid of the estimable Concertgebouw Orchestra and the ethereal tones of the Dutch National Opera chorus.
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE, 18-5-2018
Musically – and, particularly, orchestrally – this Parsifal is very fine.
Music Web International, 23-2-2018
GREAT INTERPRETERS:
Ivan Fischer, Christoph Prégardien, Kuijken Piano Quartet, Marc Albrecht
Classic Voice, 02-1-2018
No. 16 Cutting Edge - Classic under the Christmas tree: the 17 of '17
Cutting Edge, 21-12-2017
together with the singers, they have made a wonderful and fascinating performance
Luister, 06-10-2017
Iván Fischer is capable of great things, and with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the pit there are bound to be some wonderful sounds in this subtlest and also most piercing of Wagner's scores.
BBC Music Magazine, 17-9-2017
Ivan Fischer animates the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to a liquid, color-intensive playing with large increases and the strings to set striking accents.
Opernglas, 10-9-2017
Well filmed and recorded, this is an essential purchase for Lang and for Audi's direction, a straight but strong rival to existing competition
Gramophone, 20-8-2017
Iván Fischer leads the Concertgebouw Orchestra with a chamber musical sophistication
Klassieke Zaken, 04-8-2017
The presentation of this edition is exemplary, and not just by combining a Blu-ray disc with a regular DVD.
Opus Klassiek, 17-7-2017
Iván Fischer with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, the wonderful dark sound in many colors shimmer and supple agogik take, in short, is the real star of the performance
Opera lounge, 01-7-2017
(The dvd) show many camera perspectives, often close-ups, each significant facial expressions, virtually any thoughts. Almost like in a movie! Great pictures! In the transformation of music remains of the spectators to the action: here show film projections the paths of Parsifal and Gurnemanz: blurred and fuzzy - suitable for music.
SWR, 08-6-2017
An imaginative show, full of enchanting scenes and impressive images that you will never forget.
AVROTROS, 11-5-2017
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