Easter Parsifal in January

My first and only Parsifal was 10 years ago. So it is time to see it live sometime somewhere. And it was Placido Domingo as Parsifal on January 12, 2002 in Wiener Staatsoper. Naturally I have the CD with Placido and Jessye Norman. But I want a CD of the radio broadcast of Teatro Real's Parsifal from March 2001 with Placido and Agnes Baltsa. I was in Madrid in March 2001, could not record the radio broadcast because I was trying to get tickets for the performance and I am still angry with Teatro Real for making it so hard and then we tried the people outside the theatre and still, being first meant nothing.

Parsifal is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, the 13th century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival (Percival) and his quest for the Holy Grail, and on Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail. (wikipedia)

King Arthur, Holy Grail. Parsifal is a quasi-Christian story. Kundry was cursed for laughing at Jesus and the cross. Parsifal is innocence that become wise through compassion. Kundry is the cathalyst for the chance but Parsifal does not have compassion for Kundry, a woman, only for Amfortas, a man. Gurnemanz is the voice of wisdom and compassion even towards Kundry.

More links:
A website devoted to Parsifal, Monsalvat.


For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com