Ramiro Arguello <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>There are three or more Wagner's Parsifal recorded in DVD. At Classical
>Net there is a favorable review of Nagano's interpretation, but what
>about Levine and the Metropolitan, Gergiev and Kirov?
>
>Has anyone in the list had the opportunity to listen to Levine and
>Gergiev?
>
>I would appreciate some input on this.

Here is the problem as I see it, Ramiro. You ask about an opera and various
DVD presentations of it on a list that primarily deals with what I call
modern classical music. Now, were you to ask on an opera list, you would
still get a plethora of opinions. Opera more than other genres of Classical
Music is made up of so many variables and different persons put different
weight on different variables. There is the orchestra and conductor. There
is the cast of singers. There is then what is called "The production" which
to some and indeed to many is the most important thing. I have even seen
some posters on opera lists say that the broadcast (radio) displayed
atrocious singing but perhaps the production made up for that. That to me
is impossible. Singing cannot be the least or even a subservient variable
in the complex called opera. I have the Nagano. I am not terribly affected
by it. I read that the production really includes many "occurrences" quite
at variance with the composer's intention as to what transpires. To me
neither the orchestral playing nor the singing is OVERWHELMING. Yet many
adore the DVD.

Now personally I limit my Parsifal to the long Act II duet between
Ljungberg and Widdop in an ancient audio recording under Albert Coates
and this is because the orchestra and the two singers are something that
I will never hear elsewhere.  Obviously while that fulfills my needs,
it does not fulfill the needs of others.  However I would not expect
myself to want to re-view the Nagano.

Best wishes,
Yoel