> Over the years, I've tried to listen to Wagner - I have the Böhn Ring,
> and a Kna Parsifal, but I never really "got" him. Today, I tried
> watching a DG Parsifal DVD I bought a couple of months ago; thinking
> that it makes more sense to see Wagner than to hear his works.
>
> I still don't get it. I've just watched the first act so far, but out
> of, what, 99 min, there was perhaps 70 minutes of recitative. I can
> understand that they don't sing, but it sure gets me weary after a
> while. This is a shame - I really do like the musical soundtrack, and I
> especially like the long ending of this act with the choir - they sing,
> and their singing and the music are very nice.
>
> So what's the deal? People debate who the best Wagner singers are, but
> most of the time they're not singing; to be fair, the recitatives only
> become truly melodic at rare moments. Most of the time - especially in
> this Act I - it's a bass braying at odds with the music.
>
> I'm not being a troll, I truly want to understand what is supposed to
> be so great here. Any explanations would be welcome. ...

> Over the years, I've tried to listen to Wagner - I have the Böhn Ring,
> and a Kna Parsifal, but I never really "got" him. Today, I tried
> watching a DG Parsifal DVD I bought a couple of months ago; thinking
> that it makes more sense to see Wagner than to hear his works.
>
> I still don't get it. I've just watched the first act so far, but out
> of, what, 99 min, there was perhaps 70 minutes of recitative. I can
> understand that they don't sing, but it sure gets me weary after a
> while. This is a shame - I really do like the musical soundtrack, and I
> especially like the long ending of this act with the choir - they sing,
> and their singing and the music are very nice.
>
> So what's the deal? People debate who the best Wagner singers are, but
> most of the time they're not singing; to be fair, the recitatives only
> become truly melodic at rare moments. Most of the time - especially in
> this Act I - it's a bass braying at odds with the music.
>
> I'm not being a troll, I truly want to understand what is supposed to
> be so great here. Any explanations would be welcome. ...

> Over the years, I've tried to listen to Wagner - I have the Böhn Ring,
> and a Kna Parsifal, but I never really "got" him. Today, I tried
> watching a DG Parsifal DVD I bought a couple of months ago; thinking
> that it makes more sense to see Wagner than to hear his works.
>
> I still don't get it. I've just watched the first act so far, but out
> of, what, 99 min, there was perhaps 70 minutes of recitative. I can
> understand that they don't sing, but it sure gets me weary after a
> while. This is a shame - I really do like the musical soundtrack, and I
> especially like the long ending of this act with the choir - they sing,
> and their singing and the music are very nice.
>
> So what's the deal? People debate who the best Wagner singers are, but
> most of the time they're not singing; to be fair, the recitatives only
> become truly melodic at rare moments. Most of the time - especially in
> this Act I - it's a bass braying at odds with the music.
>
> I'm not being a troll, I truly want to understand what is supposed to be
> so great here. Any explanations would be welcome. ...

> On Jun 15, 6:40 am, Kirk McElhearn gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>

>> Over the years, I've tried to listen to Wagner - I have the Böhn Ring,
>> and a Kna Parsifal, but I never really "got" him. Today, I tried
>> watching a DG Parsifal DVD I bought a couple of months ago; thinking
>> that it makes more sense to see Wagner than to hear his works.

>

>> I still don't get it. I've just watched the first act so far, but out
>> of, what, 99 min, there was perhaps 70 minutes of recitative. I can
>> understand that they don't sing, but it sure gets me weary after a
>> while. This is a shame - I really do like the musical soundtrack, and I
>> especially like the long ending of this act with the choir - they sing,
>> and their singing and the music are very nice.

>

>> So what's the deal? People debate who the best Wagner singers are, but
>> most of the time they're not singing; to be fair, the recitatives only
>> become truly melodic at rare moments. Most of the time - especially in ...

> You're not in an insignificant minority. I remember Mark Twain's left-
> handed comment: "Wagner's music isn't as bad as it sounds."

> Most of us
> older Wagner fans got into the water slowly tho ... we all start with
> the "bleeding chunks" or orchestral excerpts and learn to relish the
> emotional power of his music. Then we cautiously advanced to some of
> the more accessible works (Parsifal is last on many lists) where we
> yawn during much of it while waiting for the "good parts" to arrive.

> And then something clicked and we started understanding the DRAMA and
> the music starts to flow in an inexorable stream. You appreciate the
> singing more because of the acting involved rather than the sheer
> beauty of the melodic line (a quality not limited to Wagner I will add
> but one Wagner's works were at the forefront of developing a musical
> taste for).

> This could (and probably will) become a terribly lengthy and detailed
> discussion, so before it gets that far, I'd say: the first act of
> Parsifal is probably not the best thing to start with on this...

> Over the years, I've tried to listen to Wagner - I have the B

> On 2008-06-15 16:46:04 +0200, Gregorius comcast.net> said:
>

>> You're not in an insignificant minority. I remember Mark Twain's left-
>> handed comment: "Wagner's music isn't as bad as it sounds."

>
> LOL...
>

>> Most of us
>> older Wagner fans got into the water slowly tho ... we all start with
>> the "bleeding chunks" or orchestral excerpts and learn to relish the
>> emotional power of his music. Then we cautiously advanced to some of
>> the more accessible works (Parsifal is last on many lists) where we
>> yawn during much of it while waiting for the "good parts" to arrive.

>
> Yes, I can get that. I do like the music in it; as you say, the
> orchestral exceprts.
>

>> And then something clicked and we started understanding the DRAMA and
>> the music starts to flow in an inexorable stream. You appreciate the ...

> OK, but if the acting is bad (and in the one I'm watching, now at the
> end of Act II, it is especially bad, then what's left? While I can
> understand appreciating it when watching it (and we live in a wonderful
> age for that), what about listening? How can one listen to this if one
> doesn't understand German?