Parsifal

Description

An essential companion for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Wagner's final masterpiece This guide includes a series of articles on Wagner's profound and complex opera, which the composer preferred to call a "Bühnenweihfestspiel"—a "festival work to consecrate a stage." The first, by Mike Ashman, explores the ideological background to the opera, both political and philosophical. Dieter Borchmeyer discusses Parsifal's mythological foundations and relation to Wagner's earlier works. Robin Holloway provides a study of the opera's musical motifs, while Carolyn Abbate examines the relation between music and drama in the opera. Finally, Gerd Rienäcker contributes an essay on the dramaturgy of Parsifal, analyzing some of the major scenes. The guide also contains a literal translation of the libretto opposite the original German text. Recapitulation of a Lifetime Parsifal: The Profanity of the Sacred Experiencing Music and Imagery in Parsifal Parsifal: Words and Music Discursions into the Dramaturgy of Parsifal Parsifal on the Stage Thematic Guide Act One Act Two Act Three Select Discography Parsifal on DVD – A Selection Select Bibliography Wagner Websites Note on the Contributors Appendix Acknowledgements