The CD release of “Parsifal” under Philippe Jordan is not exactly news. The production dates from the 2021 season of the Vienna State Opera when the gritty, and no less controversial, staging of Kirill Serebrennikov received widespread attention. It was a secular “Parsifal,” highly politicized, and more akin to the oppressive climate of the Soviet Gulag than the Romantic exclusivity {…}
Sony Classical has announced the release of a new “Parsifal” starring Jonas Kaufmann, Ludovic Tézier, and Elīna Garanča. The new recording slated for release on March 1, 2024, was recorded at the Wiener Staatsoper in 2021 without an audience. Kaufmann took to social media to announce the new release and said, “I am happy to announce the release of our {…}
(Photo Credit: Enrico Nawarth / Bayreuth Festival) It would be difficult to exaggerate the ways in which Jay Scheib‘s “Parsifal” at Bayreuth 2023 fails its sublime musical roots. From amateurish digital enhancement to bargain basement stagings, this opera sold out its mission in every way, save for one factor (more much later). In the front row of the loge {…}
Deutsche Grammophon has announced that it will continue as the global media partner with the Bayreuth Festival. In 2022, the label launched its ground-breaking classical music platform, STAGE+, which hosted the international premiere screenings of Valentin Schwarz’s thought-provoking new production of “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” The collaboration will open with Jay Scheib’s highly anticipated “Parsifal” from the Festspielhaus on STAGE+ one day after {…}
Joseph Calleja has withdrawn from his upcoming performances of “Parsifal” at the Bayreuth Festival. In a statement, Calleja said, “Due to a persistent throat infection, I was advised by my doctor to withdraw from the current production of Parsifal here in Bayreuth. Goes without saying that this was a very hard decision to take, and I am so sorry for {…}
(Photo: Mark Allan) Last time Opera North visited London’s Southbank Centre it was for an award-winning semi-staged Ring cycle, conducted by then music director Richard Farnes. They even made a gripping and hugely instructive recording for YouTube that shows the entire tetralogy from a camera placed right in front of the conductor. He returns to the Royal Festival Hall with {…}
(Credit: Vincent Pontet / ONP) The week Rafael Nadal lifted his trophy for an unprecedented 14th victory at the Roland Garros tennis tournament in Paris, the opera public attending Richard Wagner’s “Parsifal” at the Opéra National de Paris at the Bastille saw tenor Simon O’Neill triumphantly raise a supersized Holy Grail chalice with a shape that had an uncanny resemblance {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its April 14 performance of “Parsifal” The company noted that due to illness Simon O‘Neill would not be performing the title role. As a result, Stuart Skelton will take over. Skelton is one of today’s most revered Wagnerian singers of his generation. He has performed the title role of Parsifal around {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Opéra National de Paris has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Parsifal.” The company noted that Iain Paterson has withdrawn from the production and as a result, the role of Amfortas will be performed by Brian Mulligan. This season Mulligan is set to appear at the Staatsoper Stuttgart in a production of “Die {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Parsifal.” The company noted that the role of Klingsor will sing by Joachim Gotz on March 27, April 2, and 6, 2022 while the role of Amfortas will be sung by Noel Bouley on March 27 and April 2, 2022. The April 6, 2022 performance will {…}
(Credit: Georg Zeppenfeld) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that bass René Pape will not be appearing in the role of Gurnemanz in the run of Wagner’s “Parsifal.” As a result, German bass Georg Zeppenfeld will take over the role. Zeppenfeld joins a cast that includes Wolfgang Koch, Anja Kampe, Nikolay Sidorenko, Artyom Wasnetsov, Carlos Osuna, Erik Van Heyningen, Patricia Nolz, {…}