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|Startsida | Sångare | Andra artister och kreatörer | Libretton | Operahus | Jag och min operavärld | Sökord |
Music and lyrics: Richard Wagner.
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First performance at Festspielhaus in Bayreuth on 26 of July 1882.
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Gurnemanz | bass |
| Amfortas | baritone |
| Titurel | bass |
| Parsifal | tenor |
| Klingsor | bass |
| Kundry | soprano |
| Graalknights | tenor and soprano |
| Squire | tenor and soprano |
| A voice from above | alto |
In the domain of the Knights of the Holy Grail. Dawn. Guernemanz and the esquires await the ailing Guardian of the Holy Grail, Amfortas. Kundry who appears before the esquires as a 2wild horsewoman" on a "devil jade", brings Arabioan balm to the Guardian of the Holy Grail. Amfortas is carried down to the lake in the hope that bathing will relieve his pain. The esquires chase Kundry lika a wild animal: But Gurnemanz intervenes. In his attempt to fathom the being of this strange, ever serving woman, he begins to reflect on the history of the Grail order of chivalry: on Titurel, the pious hero, who was once entrusted with the Holy Grail and the Holy Spear by the Saviourīs herald. The Holy Grail is the wessel from which the Saviour drank at the Last Supper, and in which he shed is blood on the Cross; the Spear is the weapon with which the cruicefied Saviourīs blood was shed. The Holy Grail endows its knights with miraculous abilities for the most gloriopus heroic deeds. Klingsor once came in contrition, begging to be admitted to the order of the Holy Grail. But as he had castrated himself to live up to the orders ideal of absolute chastity, he was rejected by the knights. Filled with hatred against the order he founded a realm of seduction "for lecherous lust and infernal horror", and is now striving for possession of the Holy Grail. He has already lured many of the Grail knights. When Amfortas became Guardian of the Holy Grail he tried to stop Klingsor, but close to Klingsorīmagic castle he was seduced by an enchantingly beautiful woman". While Amfortas lay in her arms, Klingsor stole the Holy Spear and wounded Amfortas with it. Since then Amfortas has suffered from a wound which will not heal. But a holy vision has filled him with hope: "Durch Mitleid wissend, der reine Tor, harre seinī, den ich erkor" ( the simple fool, wise through compassion, wait for the one I have chosen!). Gurnemanzīs narrative is interrupted: a stranger has intruded on the Grail area and has killed a wild swan. This is Parsifal, who can give only few details about himself and his parentage. He grew up with his mother in the forest and in the wild meadows, until one day he set out into the world to become one of the "magnificent men" on "beautiful creatures" whom he watched riding by. In the hope that Parsifal is the promised deliverer, Gurnemanz invites him to the feasts of the Holy Grail. He wishes to die, but the Grailīs life-giving force only increase and prolongs his sufferings. However, he gives in to entreaties of the Knights and Titurel, his father, and finally reaveals the sacred relic.Witnessing this, Parsifal is very moved, but fails to understand. In disappointment Gurnemanz expels him, as a voice from on high repeats the prophecy.
Klingsors magic kingdom. Parsifal is approaching. Klingsor awakens Kundry from her entranced state. Kundty is forced to live an "eternal life of constant new rebirth", because she once laughed at the Saviour; she is doomed to "afflict men with the agonies of seduction". She can only be liberated, if an "untouched handsome youth" resists her arts of seduction. She is leading a double lifr: she is a servant for the Grail knights, and at the same time, driven by her desire for redumption by a man, she is Klingsors instrument. It was she who seduced Amfortas. She is still reluctant to exercise her seductive powers on Parsifal, as ordered by Klingsor, but her "mad desire for the final, sublime amorous delight", her hope of redemption through the act of love, is stronger. Parsifal defeats Klingsorīs men, former Grail knights now in Klingsors power. In his innocence considers the Flower Maidensī erotic allurements a childish game. Then Kundry calls his name. She manages to revive Parsifalīs memories of his mother and childhood. Parsifal feels painfully guilty at the thought of his responsibility for his motherīs dead, because he abandoned her. Kundry offers him love in comfort: "als Muttersegens letzten Gruss der Liebe - ersten Kuss". With Kundryīs kiss, his first intimate encounter with a woman, Parsifal recognises his task. He rejects Kundry and her insatiable desire. But Kundry believes that she will find redemption in the act of passion. She curses Parsifla and summons Klingsorīs help. Parsifal wins back the Holy Spear. Klingsorīs power has been broken.
In the domain of the Knights of the Grail, many years later. Good Friday. The degeneration of the Graik knights is far advanced. Amfortas has not revealed the Holy Grail for a very long time and wishes to die. The order has lost its former vigour. Gurnemanz, now an old man, lives as a hermit.
He finds Kundry and wakes her up from a deathlike sleep. After a long time of roaming and tribulations Parsifal returns to the Grail area in the black armour of war. Not until he is disarmed does Gurnemanz recognise him as the youth he once expelled from the Grail Temple. At the same time he recognises the Holy Spear, which Parsifal has won back. In the battle of life Parsifal has come to the knowledge of truth. Gurnemanz anoints him Guardian of the Holy Grail. As his first action Parsifal baptises Kundry. Together, Parsifal, Gurnemanz and Kundry go to the Grail Temple, where at the funeral ceremony for Titurel the Holy Grail will be revealed once more. With brutal violence the knights demand of Amfortas, whose only wish is to die, that he reveal the Grail. Then Parsifal enters. With the Holy Spear he gives Amfortas the redemption he has longed for. Parsifal reveals the Grail, breaks the destructive isolation of the order and shows the knights the way to valorous deeds.
The Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, Denmark the season 2000/2001
