I'm exploring the varied output of live recordings from Hans Knappertsbusch's thirteen-year stint with Parsifal at Bayreuth. My digital Barenboim is first-rate , but after listening to an old LP of the 1951 Kna, I'm craving more. My question is: how could it get any better?
Apparently it does. The standout seems to be the 1962, which is now part of the excellent Philips 50 series. It's got a great cast, and I'm sure it's worth the hype. I can predict, though, that the cast is just as good (or better!) on the 1964. Is the 1962 better because Philips says so? And again, how can you beat the 1951 cast? I'll find out for myself. When I get around to it.
Also, I'm quasi-obsessed with Hans-Jürgen Syberberg's visionary 1982 film version, despite some head-scratching shifts in Act II. The Flower Maidens' scene is overwhelming, and the Clever/Minton combo for Kundry is perfection. Minton reminds me (yet again) to seek out more contributions from Kubelik. Man, I'm an uncultured hack.
This is 'bout as geeky as I get.
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