I'm not going to write my own review, because I broadly agree with what you wrote. Really, a great staging. They managed to work out some of the bugs you mention above after opening night (Hampson was fine, for example). I can understand your seatmate's problem with the flowermaidens - it's hard to be seductive in a burka, but I think the dancing saved it, when those flowy costumes looked like flowers. Really, the dancing was the best I've seen at Lyric. I particularly enjoyed Klingsor's blackclad minions with their twisty, jerky movements.
I was still unpacking some of the symbolism this morning. Oddly, I was a little disappointed on Wagner on one bit. At the beginning of Act 3, Gurnemanz is telling the Black Knight* that "Today is the holiest of days." I remembered his line to Parsifal when they're entering the Grail Castle in Act 1 "Here, space is time" and I thought: I get it, the three acts are Good Friday, Holy Saturday (with the harrowing of Hell), and Easter. Parsifal's journeys across the wasteland (space) are also journeys through time (the three days). Then Gurnemanz mentions it's Good Friday again and all that fell away.
The whole thing is great, though. I see that Karanas is singing in Dialogues of the Carmelites in St. Louis this season. I'll have to mention that to family while I'm down there. They might enjoy it.
*Not sure why he wasn't the Red Knight, which is Percival's usual nomme de guerre.
no subject
I'm not going to write my own review, because I broadly agree with what you wrote. Really, a great staging. They managed to work out some of the bugs you mention above after opening night (Hampson was fine, for example). I can understand your seatmate's problem with the flowermaidens - it's hard to be seductive in a burka, but I think the dancing saved it, when those flowy costumes looked like flowers. Really, the dancing was the best I've seen at Lyric. I particularly enjoyed Klingsor's blackclad minions with their twisty, jerky movements.
I was still unpacking some of the symbolism this morning. Oddly, I was a little disappointed on Wagner on one bit. At the beginning of Act 3, Gurnemanz is telling the Black Knight* that "Today is the holiest of days." I remembered his line to Parsifal when they're entering the Grail Castle in Act 1 "Here, space is time" and I thought: I get it, the three acts are Good Friday, Holy Saturday (with the harrowing of Hell), and Easter. Parsifal's journeys across the wasteland (space) are also journeys through time (the three days). Then Gurnemanz mentions it's Good Friday again and all that fell away.
The whole thing is great, though. I see that Karanas is singing in Dialogues of the Carmelites in St. Louis this season. I'll have to mention that to family while I'm down there. They might enjoy it.
*Not sure why he wasn't the Red Knight, which is Percival's usual nomme de guerre.