Parsifal (DVD): Wolfgang Wagner, Siegfried Jerusalem, Eva Randova, Bernd Weikl, Hans Sotin, Matti Salminen
Conductor: Horst Stein
Staged by: Wolfgang Wagner
Parsifal: Siegfried Jerusalem
Kundry: Eva
Randova
Amfortas: Bernd Weikl
Gurnemanz: Hans Sotin
Kllingsor: Leif
Roar
Titurel: Matti Salminen
Wolfgang Wagner's 1981 production of Parsifal at Bayreuth
To call Wolfgang Wagner's production of Parsifal from 1981 intellectually stimulating would be an exaggeration.
Indeed, if you find any of Wolfgang Wagner's productions intellectually stimulating today, you belong to a minority.
This does not necessarily force me to reject the DVD completely. For in spite of all its weaknesses, this may actually be the right introduction Parsifal if you are new to the work or to Richard Wagner. Wolfgang Wagner is rather faithful to his grandfather's scene instructions and the spirit of the work. He doesn't want to interpret the work, more or less just show it.
This Bayreuth production of Parsifal was shown between 1975 and 1981. Horst Stein conducted the work all these years, but the soloists varied. The DVD was filmed in 1981 and has a strong cast, with Bernd Weikl (Amfortas) maybe at the peak of his career, a young and fresh (and really good looking) Siegfried Jerusalem (Parsifal) and big names like Hans Sotin, Matti Salminen, Eva Randova, Hanna Schwarz and the Danish baritone Leif Roar (Klingsor). Leif Roar visited Bayreuth 1976-82, singing Kurwenal (76, 77), Telramund (79-82). Klingsor he only did in 1981.
Siegfried Jerusalem (Parsifal) and Eva Randova (Kundry) in Wolfgang Wagner's production from 1981.
RICHARD WAGNER: Parsifal (Gesamtaufnahme • Complete)
Siegfried Jerusalem • Eva Randova • Bernd Weikl Hans Sotin • Leif
Roar • Matti Salminen
Bayreuther Festspiele 1981
Conductor: Horst Stein
Staged by Wolfgang Wagner