Markus Stenz conducted Parsifal at the Philharmonie Köln over the Easter weekend. I got to sing the role of 2. Blumenmädchen II Gruppe with five other lovely ladies, namely Anna Palimina, Maike Raschke, Regina Richter, Claudia Rohrbach, and Adriana Bastidas Gamboa. The Flower Maiden scene is lots of fun to sing, as are most of the Wagner Frauen-Power scenes.
Parsifal was played by Marco Jentzsch, and Evelyn Herlitzius delivered an extremely powerful and unforgettable Kundry. Samuel Youn made his Wagner debut as Klingsor, and no-one doubts there will be plenty of Wagner in his bright and shining future. Although some terse words were exchanged between the conductor and the men from the Chor der Oper Köln (that was a scolding I won’t ever forget hearing!), they pulled their socks up and delivered a powerful and committed performance.