Wagner: Parsifal

Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui

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Wagner: Parsifal Review

by James Leonard

After listeners adjust their expectations, this is in many ways a superlative recording of Wagner's Parsifal. First, of course, listeners have to adjust to the antique sound. Taped at live performances of the opera in November 1950, the sound is perhaps not so much antique as well-preserved. While listeners can't hear everything, they can at least hear everything that matters in this subdued but clean transfer. Then, of course, listeners have to adjust to the fact that the opera is performed in Italian. But since it was given in Rome with a mostly Italian cast for a wholly Italian audience, the choice of language is entirely appropriate and, considering it is a translation from Wagner's idiosyncratic German, wonderfully well done. Finally, of course, listeners have to adjust to the notion that the star of the opera in this performance is not the title character -- sung competently but not particularly persuasively here by Africo Baldelli -- but Kundry, a character who appears briefly in Act I, extensively in Act II, and hardly at all in Act III.

But, whether or not listeners can adjust to antique sound or the Italian language, listeners will adjust to Kundry as the star whether they want to or not because this Kundry is the young Maria Callas and she blows nearly everybody else right off the sonic stage every time she opens her mouth. In her last Wagnerian role, the young but nevertheless indomitable Callas terrifies Baldelli's Parsifal, frightens Giuseppe Modesti's Klingsor, and even comes close to blasting Boris Christoff into the middle of next week. The only person she doesn't dominate is the man on the podium, Vittorio Gui, a masterful conductor who keeps firm control of the orchestra in spite of what's happening on-stage. There's no denying that Callas can sing the heck out of the role. Whatever Wagner wants from overwhelming power to unbearable passion to sheer vocal stamina, Callas has it. And there's likewise no denying that Callas sings the role not Wagner's way but her way. Her Kundry isn't merely in character. She's deep under the skin of the character. Her Kundry isn't simply a seducer. She's a woman with yearning and burning inside of her. Her Kundry isn't just a femme fatale. She's the kind of woman for whom a fool would sacrifice everything, including the Holy Grail, for the sake of having her near. Even with all its adjustments, this Parsifal is well worth hearing -- not necessarily by everyone who loves the work but certainly by everyone who loves Callas.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Parsifal, opera, WWV 111
	1	Act 1. Preludio Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	12:12
	2	Act 1. Eh, oh! Guardia, così fate voi dormendo? Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	07:12
	3	Act 1. Sì, qui sta ben, posiamo un pò Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	09:07
	4	Act 1. Ciò che tu dici, nessuno può tentar Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	03:41
	5	Act 1. Titurel, il pio campion, ben lo conobbe Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:20
	6	Act 1. Nel menomato tempio con gran fervor Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	03:19
	7	Act 1. Un atto stolto fu. Potesti uccidere Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	06:33
	8	Act 1. Ucciso già egli era stato in guerra Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	04:04
	9	Act 1. Dal bagno già ritorna Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	06:50
	10	Act 1. Il giorno ha preparato Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:43	Amazon
	11	Act 1. Figliuol Amfortas, sei pronto al rito? Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	01:48	Amazon
	12	Act 1. No, non si scopra ancor Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	10:48

Track Listing - Disc 2

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Parsifal, opera, WWV 111
	1	Act 1. Il mio sangue sia vin, il mio corpo sia pan Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	04:13
	2	Act 1. Corpo e sangue dell'offerta Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	07:41
	3	Act 1. Che fai tu qui? Sai tu che vedesti? Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	02:15
	4	Act 2. È giunto il dì. Dal mio castello il folle attratto Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:38
	5	Act 2. Ah! Oh, nero orrore Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	02:42
	6	Act 2. Oh maledetta, che chiedi a me? Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	02:11
	7	Act 2. Oh guerrieri, o guardie, prodi! Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	02:58
	8	Act 2. Qui fu il clamore: armi, fiere grida Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	07:53	Amazon
	9	Act 2. Parsifal resta! Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	06:11
	10	Act 2. Ho visto il figlio sul materno sen Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	07:49	Amazon
	11	Act 2. Amfortas, la piaga, la piaga! Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	06:09	Amazon
	12	Act 2. Sì, questa voce già lo chiamò Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	01:13
	13	Act 2. Ah, crudel, gli altrui dolori atroci Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:17	Amazon
	14	Act 2. Per sempre tu ti dannerai con me Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:25

Track Listing - Disc 3

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Parsifal, opera, WWV 111
	1	Act 3. Di là venuto è il grido Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	09:31
	2	Act 3. Non ti dovrai stancar Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	02:54
	3	Act 3. Salve fratel Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:28
	4	Act 3. Dio mi fa ritrovarti Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	01:50
	5	Act 3. Per lui che un giorno Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	01:40
	6	Act 3. O grazia Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	03:44
	7	Act 3. No, no, la sacra fonte sia Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:45
	8	Act 3. Ecco, ci fu promesso Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	05:21
	9	Act 3. E pur non è così Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	04:29
	10	Act 3. Prostrato io vedo chi m'ha deriso Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	09:34
	11	Act 3. Sì onta, onta su di me Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	06:02
	12	Act 3. Soltanto un'arma val... La piaga chiude Richard Wagner	Maria Callas / Vittorio Gui	08:23