Parsifal (an orchestral quest)

Neeme Jarvi conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in the second of four albums featuring the bold arrangements of Wagner by Henk de Vlieger. Of the first album, Classic FM magazine wrote 'Dutch composer Henk de Vlieger builds a penetrating symphonic poem that reflects the dramatic depths of The Ring.'

In Parsifal, an orchestral quest, commissioned by the Netherland Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and dedicated to the musicians of this orchestra, Henk de Vlieger has compiled the musical and emotional highlights of Wagner's opera, and whenever necessary he has stitched these into a new context. Thus De Vlieger retells the story of Parsifal with Wagner's music. In order to do so he has kept the symmetry in the opera: 1. Vorspiel, 2 Parsifal, 3. Die Gralsritter I, 4. Die Blumennadchen, 5. Karfreitagszauber, 6. Die Gralsritter II, 7. Naschspiel.

This arrangement is coupled with Wagner's arrangements of Overture and Venusberg Ballet Scene from Tannhauser and the concert version of Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin.

Chandos releases this album is surround-sound hybrid SACD to maximise the audio quality of the performance.

"The Tannhauser excerpt...really begins to boil in the infamous ballet music, giving the sonorous RSNO brass something they can finally tuck into with relish" BBC Music Magazine, August 2010 **