Parsifal
Other operas loosely based on the story of Parsifal and the holy grail:
Parsifal - Richard Wagner
Information about the opera Parsifal by Richard Wagner, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Wagner's magnificent Christian opera based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's poem on the legend of the Holy Grail.
Recommended recordings on CD
Thielemann/Domingo/Struckmann (Deutsche Grammophon 477 6006GH4)
A thrilling new live recording, with Domingo in the title role.
Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, conducted by Christian Thielemann, 2005.
Cast: Plácido Domingo (Parsifal), Falk Struckmann (Amfortas), Wolfgang Bankl (Klingsor), Franz-Josef Selig (Gurnemanz), Waltraud Meier (Kundry).
Deutsche Grammophon 477 6006GH4
Knappertsbusch/Thomas/London (Philips 416 390-2)
A legendary recording with faultless performances and excellent sound.
Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch, 1962.
Cast: Jess Thomas (Parsifal), George London (Amfortas), Hans Hotter (Klingsor), Martti Talvela (Gurnemanz), Irene Dalis (Kundry).
Philips 416 390-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Sinopoli/Elming/Struckmann (C Major 705 908)
From the 1998 Bayreuth Festival.
Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli.
Cast: Poul Elming (Parsifal), Falk Struckmann (Amfortas), Ekkehard Wlaschiha (Klingsor), Hans Sotin (Gurnemanz), Linda Watson (Kundry).
C Major 705 908
Nagano/Ventris/Hampson (Opus Arte OA 0915 D)
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Festspielchor Baden-Baden, conducted by Kent Nagano.
Cast: Christopher Ventris (Parsifal), Thomas Hampson (Amfortas), Tom Fox (Klingsor), Matti Salminen (Gurnemanz), Waltraud Meier (Kundry).
Opus Arte OA 0915 D
Barenboim/Elming/Struckmann (EuroArts 206 6738)
Harry Kupfer's production recorded at the Berlin State Opera in 1992, a superb performance with outstanding sound.
Berlin State Opera Chorus, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, 1992.
Cast: Poul Elming (Parsifal), Falk Struckmann (Amfortas), Günter von Kannen (Klingsor), John Tomlinson (Gurnemanz), Waltraud Meier (Kundry).
EuroArts 206 6738