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.

Recordings Review: Sir Reginald's Grail Quest

Parsifal from the Welsh National Opera.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

The original cover of this Parsifal with a photo of Act I, Scene II.
Photo © 1984 EMI Classics/Welsh National Opera.

This Parsifal presents the rare opportunity to hear Wagner's final opera as interpreted by the late Sir Reginald Goodall, the most important British Wagnerian of the late 20th century. His English-language performances of The Ring and The Mastersingers at English National Opera sparked renewed interest in the composer in Britain. This performance (recorded at the Welsh National Opera in 1984) offers the rare opportunity to hear this conductor leading Wagner's final opera in the original German.