1336 Wagner: Parsifal (rebroadcast)

The final opera in our Wagner Opera Series, sponsored by Flowers.FM Parsifal is an opera in three acts by German composer Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach, a 13th-century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail. Wagner first conceived the work in April 1857 but did not finish it until twenty-five years later. It was Wagner's last completed opera and in composing it he took advantage of the particular acoustics of his Bayreuth Festival. Parsifal was first produced at the second Bayreuth Festival in 1882. The Bayreuth Festival maintained a monopoly on Parsifal productions until 1903, when the opera was performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Wagner described Parsifal not as an opera, but as "A Festival Play for the Consecration of the Stage.” At Bayreuth a tradition has arisen that there be no applause after the first act of the opera. This performance is by the CMD German Opera Company of Berlin and conducted by Kenneth Hedgecock. Purchase now at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p395/Wagner%3A_Parsifal.html