Ever since the world premiere of Parsifal at Bayreuth on 26th July 1882, the meaning of Richard Wagner’s last opera has been widely discussed. Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s visionary staging of this emotionally charged opera reveals a masterpiece of existential drama about human existence. Christopher Ventris and Waltraud Meier lead an inspired cast in a high definition recording in true surround sound. A landmark new production from Festspielhaus Baden-Baden in co-production with ENO London, San Francisco Opera and Lyric Opera Chicago, filmed in August 2004.

Christopher Ventris, Waltraud Meier, Matti Salminen, Tom Fox, Thomas Hampson
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Festspielchor Baden-Baden / Kent Nagano
Stage Director Nikolaus Lehnhoff
TV Director Thomas Grimm
Sets Raimund Bauer, Costumes Andrea Schmidt-Futterer, Lighting Duane Schuler, Choreography Denni Sayers

Plus
PARSIFAL’S PROGRESS – 60 minute documentary analysis including interviews with Kent Nagano, Nikolaus Lehnhoff, Christopher Ventris, Waltraud Meier and many others.

Audio Synopsis and cast gallery.

Reviews
‘It is by a long way the most thoughtful, positive and penetrating view of Parsifal that I have encountered’
The Times

‘Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s provocative, intelligent and finally very moving production of Wagner’s perplexing masterpiece dares to ask questions for which there are no easy answers’
The Independent

‘Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s (production of Parsifal) for ENO is one of the best Wagner stagings of my lifetime’
Opera Review

'Wagner’s singular operatic fusion of the Grail legend and Buddist philosophy here gets a remarkable performance and staging. Christopher Ventris’s Parsifal convincingly conveys the character’s growth from innocence to experience; Waltraud Meier is the outstanding Kundry of our time; and Thomas Hampson’s stricken Amfortas goes to the marrow of the character’s suffering and eventual redemption. Lehnhoff’s staging is at once timeless and modern. While Kent Nagano could have made more of the music’s loveliest moments, he paces Wagner’s vast score with a sure touch; and the chorus and orchestra deliver handsomely.'
Classic fM

'A provocative but effective interpretation, in which the Knights of the Grail are struggling to hang on to life in a post-apocalyptic world (a symbolic meteorite dominates the set in Act I). It’s a grim vision, but one that works with the established plot; and Lehnhoff’s final suggestion of Parsifal leading the others on to a new life without the organised religion that has so patently failed them is inspiring in these over-zealous times. It would be hard to assemble a better cast today. Waltraud Meier’s Kundry is riveting in her intensity and sense of a creature possessed. The same characteristics mark out Thomas Hampson’s Amfortas – for once a vividly drawn character, whose pain is there for all to see in his acting and singing. Christopher Ventris’s burly, Rambo-esque Parsifal is both lyrical and forthright, Matti Salminen’s Gurnemanz resonantly enunciated and authoritative. …this is a lavish presentation, well filmed and recorded.'
BBC Music Magazine

'This [Parsifal] fields an excellent cast… It’s good to hear these fine singers on this DVD set, together with the admirable Christopher Ventris in the title-role and the first-class American bass Tom Fox as Klingsor. …fine performances… a 75-minute documentary by Reiner E Moritz has its moments, especially when Christopher Ventris and Tom Fox are discussing their roles. Lehnhoff, too, is impassioned and articulate, even if you disagree violently with what he is saying.'
The Gramophone

'Meier, who has been singing this killing role for over 20 years, is on superb form …she looks magnificent, both as penitent and as would-be seducer, and of course understands every last thing about this complex role. Like all the greatest Kundrys, she commands attention during the very long stretches when she is on stage but silent. Thomas Hampson…acts the extremely demanding part of Amfortas well, with some uncanny blending of agony and ecstasy. Gurnemanz is the veteran Matti Salminen, who at 59 is in astoundingly fine voice, phrasing broadly, singing always fairly loudly, but wonderful to hear. Among the available DVD accounts of the work, it ranks high.'
International Record Review

CAT NO: OA 0915 D
FORMAT: All Formats
REGIONS: All Regions
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: 317 MINS
SOUND: DTS SURROUND / LPCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT
RELEASED: 29/03/2005
NO OF DISCS: 3