<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A video which will satisfy nobody...
Review: Although there are some good scenes of the Kirov production, I was disappointed with this video. It is not a good introduction, and anyone who knows anything about Parsifal will wince frequently. The video includes far too many extracts from other movies, especially Palmer's 'Wagner'. Palmer mixes in music from 'The Ring' which might confuse someone new to the topic. Domingo looks simply awful as Parsifal. There are a couple of scenes with nude swimmers, which appear completely out of place with the style of the Kirov production, and also are totally uninteresting as pornography. It made me realise how good Syberberg's Parsifal is.
Rating:
Summary: good performance, worthless commentary
Review: As others have noted, this is not a complete performance. In fact, the scenes from what appear to be an excellent Kirov performance are all too brief. What predominates this otherwise waste of 90 min is a self-serving attempt at commentary by some "experts" (who are not) who lack any understanding of the work or even of Wagner. If you want to get to know PARSIFAL, arguably Wagner's masterpiece, leave this alone as there are several books, such as the ENO guide, that do a far better job. If the complete Kirov performance ever does become available, that can be recommended. This cannot.
Rating: 
Summary: marvellous documentary
Review: enchanting and inspiring narration by Domingo and perspective introduction by Wolfgang Wagner. Also the only documentary avaiable on Parsifal, the theme and its opera. I love this DVD, only if it is with Chinese subtitles.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty disapointing
Review: I rented this thinking I would be viewing the opera and that was a big disappointment. I did learn a little about how the Grail figures in religious history, which was interesting, but a lot of the commentary by both Placido Domingo, of whom I am a big fan, and also by a few other completely unbalanced people, were a bit ridiculous. Domingo seemed to be saying that the opera could bring world peace and another commentator seemed to think the opera alone was entirely responsible for the holocaust. All a bit simplistic thinking, really.
Rating: 
Summary: For its function, superb
Review: This is a superb video, for its function as a documentary on the genesis, plot summary, and dramatic themes and resonances of PARSIFAL. Yes, the use of music from the RING at one point was puzzling, but otherwise the treatment was thorough, lucid, and involving. I very much liked the drawing-in of other filmic treatments of Wagner, Parsifal, and the Grail legend. Certainly it is not a substitute for the complete work. But for someone who a) is getting ready to explore PARSIFAL and wants some background and context, or b) already loves the work and simply wants to celebrate its profundities, this in my opinion is a must-have.
Rating:
Summary: Beware if you think this is a production of the opera.
Review: This is the story of the opera: It contains certain staged excerpts, but mainly gives some background information on events in Wagner's life which led to the opera coming about. "Parsifal," which speaks to the soul's quest for purity, is visually explained in this production, thru the use of nudity! Anyone who believes in the magic and beauty of "Parsifal," would do well to avoid this video.
Rating:
Summary: For its function, superb
Review: This video is not a complete recording of the Opera Parsifal but it offers description of the story of this opera narrated by Placido Domingo plus introductions to the back ground of the opera, philosophy of the opera and even the humanity implication of the opera as well as the composer's biography. A lot of film clips were edited into video string of this tape and it is nice to have scenes from various films though I do not necessary agree with the points of view offered. If you are not crazy about Wagnerian operas but you would like to own some kind of recording of Parsifal and this is one you ought to have because it's got all the excerpts of the highlights of the opera. If you are a hot fan of Parsifal and you already own a complete recording of this opera then it wouldn't hurt to own this recording on the side for story telling and interest of the Holy Grail Myth.Vocally, Domingo was in great voice but lack of the youthfulness of Jerusalem of the Philips Bayreuther recording. Kundry sung by Violeta Urmana who acted well and whose top voice was very focused and brilliant compared to the the Kundry sung by Eva Randova of the Bayreuther recording who was sort of a mezzo-soprano pushing her middle voice up to sing the top. (A lot of mezzo-soprano sings in that manner and once they found their tops, they usually will sing dramatic sopranos instead.) However Bayreuther's Kundry was more appealing since the opera describes Kundry as the fairest of all of the Flower Maidens in the opera. klingsor sung by Nikolai Putilin sounded good but look like a monster rather than a devil. The swimming sexy girls were ok to imply fantasy of the Magic Garden.
Rating:
Summary: VHS OPERA PARSIFAL / PLACIDO DOMINGO
Review: This video is not a complete recording of the Opera Parsifal but it offers description of the story of this opera narrated by Placido Domingo plus introductions to the back ground of the opera, philosophy of the opera and even the humanity implication of the opera as well as the composer's biography. A lot of film clips were edited into video string of this tape and it is nice to have scenes from various films though I do not necessary agree with the points of view offered. If you are not crazy about Wagnerian operas but you would like to own some kind of recording of Parsifal and this is one you ought to have because it's got all the excerpts of the highlights of the opera. If you are a hot fan of Parsifal and you already own a complete recording of this opera then it wouldn't hurt to own this recording on the side for story telling and interest of the Holy Grail Myth. Vocally, Domingo was in great voice but lack of the youthfulness of Jerusalem of the Philips Bayreuther recording. Kundry sung by Violeta Urmana who acted well and whose top voice was very focused and brilliant compared to the the Kundry sung by Eva Randova of the Bayreuther recording who was sort of a mezzo-soprano pushing her middle voice up to sing the top. (A lot of mezzo-soprano sings in that manner and once they found their tops, they usually will sing dramatic sopranos instead.) However Bayreuther's Kundry was more appealing since the opera describes Kundry as the fairest of all of the Flower Maidens in the opera. klingsor sung by Nikolai Putilin sounded good but look like a monster rather than a devil. The swimming sexy girls were ok to imply fantasy of the Magic Garden.
<< 1 >>
|
