Recordings Review: Patience is a Virtue

The 1971 Reginald Goodall Parsifal.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Nobody's fool: Jon Vickers (left) and Amy Shuard in Act II of Parsifal.
Photo from ROH Archives © 1971 Royal Opera House of Covent Garden.
Photo from cover of Parsifal © 2008 Medici Classics.

Richard Wagner's Parsifal is unlike any other opera The slow pace, lack of action and meditative musings on suffering and self-denial can tax the patience of the most ardent fan of this composer. Those who prefer this work's majestic intervals and muted, almost impressionistic chords to unfold at a slow but considered pace should investigate this 2008 release from the BBC Legends series on Medici Classics. Drawn from a single performance (May 18, 1971 at Covent Garden and first broadcast on the BBC) this recording features Sir Reginald Goodall's legendary interpretation of Wagner's last opera, and it's every bit as magnificent and magisterial as one would hope.