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Premiere Köln Parsifal in English
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Oper Köln (Cologne), B-Première
April 8, 1999
Parsifal
It has plenty of possibilities to interpret Richard Wagner's opera 'Parsifal'. Not
without reason Wagner had himself worked for three decades on his last opera. As numerous
are the approaches by the stage directors. Regarding to the press release of the opera
house at Cologne stage director Günter Krämer searched especially for the psychological
disposition, which causes the human longing and the doctrines for salvation.
The production at the Köln Opera is not completely new, even it is slightly changed.
Already in the '96/97-season it was staged as a cooperation with the Oper Bonn. In the
media the Bonn production had mostly a positive echo, but it was mainly opposed by the
audience at Köln and Bonn. Unanimously positive was the opinion about the performance of
the singers and the orchestra conducted by Great-Britain's Graeme Jenkins at Cologne. The
Parsifal interpretation of Köln's Opera House intendant Günter Krämer is based on the
human aspect and humanity. When in the end of the third act Heinz Kruse (Parsifal) is lead
around at the hand of Kristinn Sigmundsson (Gurnemanz) it does not appear that he would
have gained more knowledge than he had in the first act. But, in general one may ask
himself, when it says in the libretto that Parsifal has developed to a knowing human
being, what his knowledge is. But, without doubt, he has developed to a (compassion)
feeling human being.
The stylized stage setting in black and white created by Gabriele Henkel gets is
special refinement by some red colors. All persons wear black clothes (costumes: Gottfried
Pilz) with exception of the knights during the unveiling of the Gral, as far as it is to
see at all on the stage.The in several opera productions quite disturbing silent actor had
in Kundry's spliced personality in this case a understandable source. The positive Kundry
I was mezzo-soprano Dalia Schaechter, while the silent, negative Kundry II was the actor
Ingrid Andree. But in general the production is not fee of quite ridiculous moments.
Concerning the vocal performance Kristinn Sigmundsson extremely impressive as
'Gurnemanz'. The recognized Wagner tenor Heinz Kruse gave a sovereign performance as
'Parsifal'. The for four years to the ensemble of the Opera Köln belonging mezzo Dalia
Schaechter mastered her role debut as Kundry. No signs of tiredness showed an
extremely-well singing Harry Peeters, who had to sing the roles of Amfortas and Klingsor.
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