Unhurried suspense in a very English Parsifal

Daniel Johansson (Parsifal) and Kristina Stanek (Kundry)

Daniel Johansson (Parsifal) and Flower Maidens

Audun Iversen (Amfortas) and Daniel Johansson (Parsifal)

Kristina Stanek (Kundry) and John Relyea (Gurnemanz)

Daniel Johansson, John Relyea (Gurnemanz), Audun Iversen (Amfortas) and John Tomlinson (Titurel)

Daniel Johansson (Parsifal), John Relyea (Gurnemanz), Kristina Stanek (Kundry), Glyndebourne Chorus

By Peter Quantrill, 19 May 2025

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“the Grail scene unfolds... like a climactic chapter from one of Anthony Trollope’s sagas”

Reviewed at Glyndebourne Opera House, Glyndebourne on 17 May 2025

Wagner, Parsifal

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Robin Ticciati, Conductor

Jetske Mijnssen, Director

Ben Baur, Set Designer

Gideon Davey, Costume Designer

Fabrice Kebour, Lighting Designer

London Philharmonic Orchestra

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Daniel Johansson, Parsifal

John Relyea, Gurnemanz

Kristina Stanek, Kundry

Audun Iversen, Amfortas

Ryan Speedo Green, Klingsor

Sir John Tomlinson, Titurel

Dustin Klein, Choreography

Glyndebourne revives Michieletto’s Kátya Kabanová

Mark Valencia, 3rd August

Damiano Michieletto’s production of Janáček’s opera breaks a key tenet of high-concept opera: where it should reveal, it obfuscates.

***11

All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

Mark Pullinger, 23rd July

Richard Jones' 2009 production returns to Glyndebourne after a long absence, but the 1940s comedy scrubs up fresh.

***11

A strong new Figaro opens at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 29th June

Mariame Clément is a popular director at Glyndebourne, and her new production of Figaro shows her trademark approach to hardhitting comedy.

****1

Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Nick Boston, 8th June

Returning from the original run, Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies were joined by a strong cast and chorus for a revival of Barrie Kosky's striking production.

*****

Glyndebourne’s season opens with Rossini’s Barber of Seville

David Karlin, 16th May

Annabel Arden’s production provides joyous comedy, with vocal and orchestral performances of the very finest.

*****

Philosophy trumps passion in Glyndebourne’s Tristan

Dominic Lowe, 29th July

Magnificent conducting from Robin Ticciati and fine singers make Glyndebourne's latest revival of Lehnhoff’s production musically rewarding, but cerebral philosophical elevation overpowers the earthy reality of lust and love.

***11

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Peter Quantrill

Peter Quantrill is a regular contributor to Gramophone, The Strad and other journals. Recent programme notes have been published by the Salzburg and Edinburgh festivals, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Ballet. He also writes about music and musicians for many record labels including Eloquence, Delphian, Signum, Danacord and Brilliant Classics. Once unplugged from his hi-fi, he can generally be found in a London concert hall or at the cricket, and he tweets (sporadically) @PeterQuantrill.