Opera Guide and Synopsis: Parsifal, by Richard Wagner

Parsifal, like many of Richard Wagner's operas, existed in his head long before it was put to music. During a six-year period (January 1848 - October 1853) in which Wagner composed no music at all, he began writing a theatrical play, Jesus of Nazareth, in which we can see roots of the Parsifal story. Interestingly, the themes of Parsifal also reveal a Buddhist influence. In 1856, Wagner began working on a play with Buddhist themes, Die Sieger (The Victors); the central idea, shared with the later Parsifal, is the value of chastity.

Wagner did not begin writing the libretto to Parsifal until 1865, and it was not completed until 1877. The sources, as with the Ring Cycle, were several stories and legends which Wagner combined in his own way: the twelfth-century Percival le Galois or Contes de Grail by Chrétien de Troves, the thirteenth-century Parsifal by Wolfram von Eschenbach, and the fourteenth-century Mabinogion. The music was completed early in 1882, and Parsifal premiered at Bayreuth on July 26, 1882. Despite Wagner's wish that Parsifal only be performed at Bayreuth, the first performance elsewhere was on December 24, 1903 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Cast of Parsifal

• Parsifal (Tenor)
• Kundry (Mezzo-soprano or Soprano)
• Gurnemaz, a knight of the Grail (Bass)
• Klingsor, a magician (Bass)
• Amfortas, ruler of the Kingdom of the Grail (Bass-baritone)
• Titurel, his father, the former ruler (Bass)
• Two knights (Tenor and Bass)
• Squires (Soprani and Tenors)
• Flower Maidens (Soprani)
• A Voice (Contralto)

Synopsis of Parsifal

The story of Parsifal takes place in the Middle Ages in the Kingdom of the Grail. Amfortas has been entrusted with the protection of the Holy Grail, the mythical cup used to catch Christ's blood, and the sacred Spear with which Longinus pierced Christ's side on the cross. However, he was seduced by Kundry, and the Spear has fallen into the hands of Klingsor, an evil magician. The Grail Knights wait for a prophesied "guileless fool," one who will not succumb to Klingsor's temptations because he does not know sin, to recover the Spear and heal Amfortas.

Act I

The knights bathe Amfortas, and Kundry brings balsam for his wounds. She is the woman who mocked Christ on the cross and, doomed to wander the earth forever, is attempting to make right the evil she does under Klingsor's influence.

Parsifal appears, having shot and killed one of the sacred swans. He expresses his grief; he did not know that the swans were protected. Gurnemaz asks him questions about his origins and his parentage, but he does not know. He remembers growing up in the woods with his mother, Herzeleid (Heart's Sorrow), and then leaving to follow a group of knights. Gurnemaz recognizes Parsifal as the "guileless fool" who can heal Amfortas.

The scene changes to inside the castle. Amfortas is carried in. Titurel instructs him to uncover the Grail, which shines a miraculous light over them all; it is the sight of the Grail which keeps Amfortas alive despite his injuries. Afterward, Gurnemaz asks Parsifal if he understands what has happened. When Parisfal answers in the negative, Gurnemaz determines that he is not the fool of the prophecy, merely a fool, and sends him away.

Act II

Klingsor, in his magic castle, has been informed by an enchanted mirror of the events in the Grail Kingdom. He understands that Parsifal is the guileless fool of prophecy and plans to stop him. Kundry appears, and he mocks her belief that she can make up for her sin by serving the Grail Knights. He sends knights to fight Parsifal, but he defeats them.

Klingsor and his castle disapppear, replaced by a garden filled with beautiful women, but Parsifal resists them. Kundry reveals that his mother has died of grief in his absence, and he allows her to kiss him. Suddenly he remembers Amfortas's wound and understands the difficulty of resisting temptation. He rejects her, and she curses him. Klingsor throws the Spear at Parsifal's head, but it remains suspended in midair, and Parsifal retrieves it.

Act III

Many years later, on Good Friday, Gurnemaz is living in the woods as a hermit. He discovers Kundry, who has awakened from a magic sleep and wishes to serve the Knights again. Parsifal appears, dressed in black armor; he has wandered for many years acquiring wisdom. Gurnemaz recognizes him by the Spear and annoints him King of the Grail Knights. Parsifal baptizes Kundry, and they head for the castle.

Titurel has died, and Amfortas begs for death to end his torment. Parsifal heals him with a touch of the Spear and takes up the Grail. The knights acknowledge him as their King, and Kundry, having finally received forgiveness, dies in peace.

Sources:

• Kobbé, Gustav. The Complete Opera Book. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.
• Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goer's Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.
• Newman, Ernest. Stories of the Great Operas and Their Composers. Garden City: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 1930.