Vienna’s luxury sub

Vienna’s luxury sub

main

norman lebrecht

March 28, 2017

Hans-Peter König has pulled out as Gurnemanz in the new Parsifal production, opening tomorrow.

Panic?

No Panic.

Rene Pape calmly steps in to the general rehearsal and first two nights.

Comments

  • Erich says:
    March 28, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Pape has been singing that role (and others: Sarastro!) on autopilot for years. Put the fee in the top and the notes come out of the…

    Reply
    • Nik says:
      March 28, 2017 at 2:26 pm

      That is unduly harsh. Yes, he knows the role in his sleep, but that doesn’t mean he’s not good. If I were a ticket holder I would be pleased with this replacement.

      Reply
  • Fred Plotkin says:
    March 29, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    He is an extraordinary Gurnemanz

    Reply
  • william osborne says:
    March 29, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    When a singer can jump in for just the dress rehearsal and then perform, it reminds us that opera lacks theatrical dimension. A Gesamtkunst it is not.

    Reply
  • AMetFan says:
    March 29, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    When the artist is Rene Pape, yes. I was there for his very first Gernamanz about a dozen years ago at the Met. He was brilliant on his first outing, and his interpretation has only deepened since. (Erik: Hardly on auto-pilot.) Whatever “theatrical dimension” you feel is lacking in opera, it has plenty of musical dimension. I trust you are not a professional performer or theater impresario.

    Reply

    • MOST READ TODAY: