A Parsifal to remember
by lighthouse75 on 3/4/13Ulster Performing Arts Center - KingstonI've seen Parsifal live in Munich, Cologne, Bonn, and London, but never anything like this. The producer's decision to set it in modern times was controversial and risky, but it worked. The cast was the best imaginable for a Wagner work today. Katarina Dalayman was a sympathetic Kundry--not a description one would normally associate with this role--and the great bass Rene Pape really stole the show as Gurnemanz; he is a grand singer and consummate actor. Jonas Kaufmann, Peter Mattei, all contributed to making this THE Parsifal for our time. I'm not normally one who purchases DVDs, but if this is ever released on DVD, I'll be saving up my gift cards to buy it. It was a particular pleasure to be viewing this performance at the UPAC Kingston, one of the Hudson Valley's historic theaters.