Parsifal on Record - (Discographies: Association for Recorded Sound Collections Di) by Jonathan Brown (Hardcover)

About the Book

The first comprehensive discography on one of Wagner's music dramas, this volume lists all complete performance recordings, all major selections recorded, and hundreds of individually-recorded excerpts, both vocal, and instrumental, from the earliest acoustic recordings to recent laser discs. Many excerpts have never appeared in discographies or other works on Wagner, and pirate recordings have been identified. Precise information is given as to date and place of recording and record numbers as well as performers, choruses, orchestras, and conductors. Musical incipits introduce each excerpt. The index provides access to more than 230 singers of the principal roles and over 130 conductors. A lengthy introduction provides a lively and provocative commentary on the recordings.

Written in Australia where Parsifal has never been fully staged, the discography was researched in major libraries and archives of Europe and the United States as well as old record shops in New York, London, Paris, and Sydney. The result is an important resource for the discographer and record collector, the student of opera and vocal art, and all lovers of Wagner in performance.

Book Synopsis

The first comprehensive discography on one of Wagner's music dramas, this volume lists all complete performance recordings, all major selections recorded, and hundreds of individually-recorded excerpts, both vocal, and instrumental, from the earliest acoustic recordings to recent laser discs. Many excerpts have never appeared in discographies or other works on Wagner, and pirate recordings have been identified. Precise information is given as to date and place of recording and record numbers as well as performers, choruses, orchestras, and conductors. Musical incipits introduce each excerpt. The index provides access to more than 230 singers of the principal roles and over 130 conductors. A lengthy introduction provides a lively and provocative commentary on the recordings.

Written in Australia where Parsifal has never been fully staged, the discography was researched in major libraries and archives of Europe and the United States as well as old record shops in New York, London, Paris, and Sydney. The result is an important resource for the discographer and record collector, the student of opera and vocal art, and all lovers of Wagner in performance.

Review Quotes

?His criticism of the various recordings and performances is concise, well-considered, and often witty, without being the work of a show-off. Also admirable is Mr. Brown's enthusiasm for the task he has undertaken, as well as his obviously sincere enjoyment of good singing and conducting. Rarely does one come across a volume of opera criticism so devoid of mean-spirited attacks on one or another artist as this one.?-Wagner Notes

?In fact Brown's detective work has been tireless, and he has himself heard most of the titles he lists. This also bears fruit in his 28-page introduction which amounts to a review, brief but sharply opinionated, of the recordings that constitute the material of the book. The work is, as it must be, a labour of love.?-Opera

?This work is a must for diehard Wagnerians, music librarians, classical music stations, and performing arts organizations. For research purposes it is more than intriguing; it is valuable.?-ARBA

"In fact Brown's detective work has been tireless, and he has himself heard most of the titles he lists. This also bears fruit in his 28-page introduction which amounts to a review, brief but sharply opinionated, of the recordings that constitute the material of the book. The work is, as it must be, a labour of love."-Opera

"This work is a must for diehard Wagnerians, music librarians, classical music stations, and performing arts organizations. For research purposes it is more than intriguing; it is valuable."-ARBA

"His criticism of the various recordings and performances is concise, well-considered, and often witty, without being the work of a show-off. Also admirable is Mr. Brown's enthusiasm for the task he has undertaken, as well as his obviously sincere enjoyment of good singing and conducting. Rarely does one come across a volume of opera criticism so devoid of mean-spirited attacks on one or another artist as this one."-Wagner Notes

About the Author

JONATHAN BROWN is an Australian government lawyer and opera lover, currently living in Paris. His other publications have been in his professional specialty, international law.