What is Reddit's opinion of

""




Categories:

Check price

1 comment of this product found across Reddit:
KelMHill /r/opera
4 points
1970-01-18 17:36:20.672 +0000 UTC

I am very glad that I got to know most operas first from CD's alone. Not that it was deliberate choice. I am just old enough that videos of opera were quite rare in my formative years. I love the fact that I knew most of music well before I started watching videos of stage productions. I generally find any stage production distracts from the actual listening experience of the music - at least as compared to CD listening. The few operas I got to see live tended to be "traditional" stagings - again, a factor of my age.

With Wagner in particular, I think the music is the primary element, as in most of his operas there is not a lot of stage action in any case. For me, all that really matters is the glorious music and singing.

As for Parsifal, I think you should start with both of the Met Opera videos. The Levine recording is a more traditional staging, and the newer one from a handful of years ago with Jonas Kaufmann was an inoffensive update. I quite enjoy them both.

https://www.amazon.com/Parsifal-Metropolitan-Opera-Orchestra-Chorus/dp/B00006J9OV/ref=sr_1_4

https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Parsifal-Metropolitan-Opera/dp/B00CU55HMY/ref=sr_1_1

If you only want one, I would go with the newer one.

However you approach them, here's hoping you become a hardcore Wagnerite. There is something very special about his music, even if it is a bit of an acquired taste.