Posted by n. vogel - but who cares ? I listen to it now and then - and almost every recording has their flaws . i don't mind these flaws because karajan's atmosphere is unique . but if you ask for opinions ..
on November 14, 2006, 15:42:12, in reply to "Parsifal"
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the karajan version is magical ,indeed . . but it is such late karajan that he has smoothened all harsh dynamics(3rd act men's chorus) and changes of instrumental colour to one big soft 4- hour worship of himself. the orchestra plays wonderfully - even if I miss the contrast of woodwinds , brass and string texture in the 1st act vorspiel , for instance. also karajan tends to shorten long pauses like in amfortas first entry . also the relatively even dynamics for me decreases the human drama of parsifal and the ending does not give a sense of big revelation ; rather like sacral moment from the beginning . - the big gral scenes don't work if you are too beautiful all the time , i'm sorry. no effect at all .
k moll is funnily made to sing so softly that his voice doesn't work alll the time . he has much more convincing versions with other conductors . ( exactly the same case with his baron ochs in rosenkavalier , probably because of karajan's regie that recording is his worst )
van dam sings as usual beautifully . his voice does not have enough power when needed, though.wrong cast, even if a great artist.
dunja vejzovic is bad. i wonder if she was only a cover- soloist who had finallly to do record it as well. 1st and 3rd act fine . especially the 3rd . =)
hofmann - beautiful voice but sounds strained . good performance .
blumenmädchen have big names but are uneven.
as usual the choir under hagen-groll's direction is horrible ( as in all DG recordings) , with no clear harmonies and no text whatsoever.
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