Composer: Richard Wagner
Works: Parsifal – Act 2 (complete) and finale Act 3
Performers: Lauritz Melchior (tenor), Kirsten Flagstad (soprano), Arnold Gabor (baritone), Herbert Janssen (baritone), Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf
Recording: Recorded live on 15 April 1938
Label: GUILD HISTORICAL 2201
Wagner’s Parsifal, first unveiled at the Bayreuth Festival in 1882, represents a culmination of his operatic vision, merging music, philosophy, and spiritual redemption. This recording, featuring a remarkable cast from the Metropolitan Opera, captures the opera’s profound emotional and thematic complexities. The live performance from 1938 offers a window into a moment when the operatic world was burgeoning with talent, particularly at the Met, which became a sanctuary for the greatest Wagnerian voices fleeing Europe during the turbulent 1930s.
Lauritz Melchior’s portrayal of Parsifal is a compelling study in vocal mastery. His tenor, formidable yet nuanced, ascends with a heroic clarity that perfectly embodies the character’s journey from innocence to enlightenment. The climactic moment in Act 2, particularly in the aria “Amfortas! Die Wunde,” showcases Melchior’s ability to convey both strength and vulnerability. His top notes resonate with an almost ethereal quality, illuminating the psychological depth Wagner intended for the character. Similarly, Kirsten Flagstad’s Kundry is a monumental interpretation, articulated with a kaleidoscope of vocal colors and dramatic intensity. Her performance transcends mere vocalization; it embodies the character’s tortured psyche, oscillating between seduction and maternal longing. The interplay between Melchior and Flagstad is electric, marked by a palpable tension that heightens the drama, especially in their duet “Unerhört!”—a moment that illustrates their seamless vocal chemistry.
The engineering of this historical recording deserves special mention. The sound, while bearing the imperfections typical of live broadcasts from the era—occasional clicks and hiss—maintains an overall warmth that enhances the listening experience. Richard Caniell’s restoration efforts reveal a clarity that allows the orchestral textures to bloom. Leinsdorf’s conducting, though youthful and energetic, demonstrates a remarkable grip on Wagnerian pacing and orchestration. His ability to balance the orchestra with the singers ensures that neither overwhelms the other, allowing the intricate harmonic layers of Wagner’s score to emerge vividly. The orchestral sound is robust, with the strings and winds exhibiting a rich timbre, particularly in the lush passages that accompany Kundry’s lamentations.
While historical context situates this recording firmly in a golden age of Wagner performance, it also invites comparison with modern interpretations. Contemporary recordings often prioritize pristine sound quality and may employ more restrained interpretations. Yet, the raw immediacy of this live performance brings a visceral quality that can often be lost in today’s more polished productions. The emotional stakes are palpable, as evidenced by Flagstad’s impassioned delivery in her climactic moments, which resonate with a depth that is both thrilling and haunting.
This recording of Parsifal stands as an essential artifact for both Wagnerians and lovers of operatic history. It encapsulates not just a moment in time but a convergence of unparalleled vocal talents. The collaboration between Melchior and Flagstad, under Leinsdorf’s vigorous direction, produces a performance that not only honors Wagner’s intentions but also elevates them to transcendent heights. Such moments of artistic synergy remind us why the legacy of these performers endures, and why this recording deserves a cherished place in any serious collection.
