Vienna’s luxury sub
mainHans-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
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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…
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.
He is an extraordinary Gurnemanz
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.
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.