The Trial, May 2010: Karajan conducts Wagner's Parsifal

Michel Glotz, supervisor of this recording and Karajan's right hand man throughout much of his recording career, has recently died;  

 http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2010/02/karajans_ears_rip.html

I had bought set on LP when it was first released amid much hullaballoo. It's certainly very beautiful orchestrally, much of it breathtaking.

But I found a sort of creeping blandness, especially in the cases of Kurt Moll's Gurnemanz and Jose van Dam's Amfortas, the latter eschewing any sense of the character's agony, sounding instead merely sorrowful. It's one view, I suppose, but I prefer Falk Struckmann, Fischer-Dieskau and (best of all) George London, especially in the 1962 Knappertsbusch set (Philips).

Not one of my favourite "Parsifal"s on disc, though I respect the consistency of Karajan's vision.

This sort of this sort thing is a waste of time and space in a serious magazine. Ashman in particular was most irritating in trying (perhaps) to be funny. This recording, like all recordings, has its strengths and weaknesses, so rather discuss them than an artificial prosecution and defence style article. As for the music itself, Parsifal demonstrates the composer's sick mind to the full so it's one piece of music that will not be on my shelf.

To be honest, this new feature is (to agree with Swallow) a waste of 2 pages in the magazine; moreover, neither advocate makes a compelling case for or against Karajan's Parsifal. At its release, it was certainly a recording I would have considered buying and whatever it's failings, having since heard it (but not finally owning it) I give it due respect.

But to the article itself; consider yourself a member of any jury listening to the arguments. I am sure the judge would have frequently interrrupted both defence and prosecution council to seek clarification on their pompous use of terminology and reference and probably dismissed both and told the jury to go home with no case to answer. Knock it on the head and replace this with another gramophone collection. Regards, Myron.

If it is not Karajan's recording of Parsifal - then who would it be? I have Jordan with Goldberg; Levine with Domingo; Solti with Kollo; Barenboim with Jerusalem; and Knappertsbusch with Thomas. So Mr. Ashman, who would YOU listen to? I like this kind of comparison of opinions and recordings - but cut out the court lingo!