August 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2011 at 18.00 in Noblessner Foundry (address: Tööstuse Str. 48) within the frameworks of European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011 and Nargen Festival
Richard Wagner’s opera in three acts, libretto by the composer World premiere: July 26th, 1882 at Bayreuth Festspielhaus
Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer Conductor: Risto Joost Stage Director: Nicola Raab (Germany) Associate Director and Fight Choreographer: Ran Arthur Braun (Israel) Designer: Robert Innes Hopkins (UK) Lighting Designer: David Cunningham (Scotland)
Sung in German with subtitles in Estonian and English Approx. running time 5 h, two intermissions
Parsifal is Richard Wagner’s last opera, being also one of the most complicated musical works challenging the soloists, orchestra and chorus. The opera will be performed within the frameworks of “European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011.” Parsifal is an extremely expressive piece of work. It is the only opera that has been written taking into consideration the special acoustics and possibilities of Wagner’s opera theatre (Bayreuth Festspielhaus). Therefore, the composer called the opera Bühnenweihfestspiel, in other words “festivity dedicated to stage”. This stage production is closest to his endeavours to combine medieval mythology and contemporary music. Wagner borrows motifs from the medieval legend of the Holy Grail, Wolfram von Eschenbach’s epic Parzival, Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, Schopenhauer’s philosophy and Buddhism. This synthesis enables to see the themes from a new angle based on the long-term development of the text and music in his mind – the opera is a natural follow-on to Wagner’s earlier operas, particularly Tristan und Isolde which premiered successfully at the Estonian National Opera in May, 2008. Opera’s musical language is daring, contemporary and unprecedentedly colourful. Claude Debussy, who was in later years very critical of Wagner and his influence, called it „one of the loveliest monuments of sound ever raised to the serene glory of music“. Gustav Mahler, who attended the premiere, stated afterwards: “When I came out of the Festspielhaus, unable to speak a word, I knew that I had experienced supreme greatness and supreme suffering, and that this experience, hallowed and unsullied, would stay with me for the rest of my life”.
Wagner stressed the singularity of the opera among other stage productions by prohibiting its staging outside the Bayreuth opera house for 30 years. In 1903, the court granted the Metropolitan Opera the right to stage the opera.
Nicola Raab is a well-known young director whose high-flown career has taken her to the Vienna and Bavarian State Operas, Zurich Opera, Salzburg Festival, Teatro Regio in Torino, La Fenice in Venice etc. In the spring of 2010, Raab successfully staged Massenet’s Thaïs for Gothenburg Opera.
Synopsis According to the precepts of the Order of the Grail, the magic power of the Holy Grail falls only upon those who are physically and mentally pure. Klingsor, being angry that he was not accepted in the Order, has built his own magic castle which is surrounded by a garden of sensual pleasures where beautiful flower-maidens aim to seduce and enthral Grail Knights. Even Amfortas, the king of Grail Knights, cannot resist the maidens, and Klingsor steals the Holy Spear (the lance that pierced Jesus’ side as he hung on the cross) from him. Klingsor stabs Amfortas with the Spear, and the man has to suffer until a “pure fool, enlightened by compassion” will heal the wound by returning the Spear to Amfortas. In the first act, a naive young man, Parsifal, sees Amfortas suffering. In the second act, Parsifal strays into Klingsor’s Flower-maiden garden where Kundry, the most beautiful Flower-maiden, is calling Parsifal by his name, finally giving him a kiss. Parsifal now recalls his name and origin, as well as the separation from his mother. This makes Parsifal compassionate for every living thing, being now able to resist Kundry, destroy Klingsor and win the Spear back. In the third act, Parsifal returns to Grail Knights, in order to heal Amfortas’ wound and save him from sufferings.
Parsifal's official carrier - Estonian Air Estonian Air, Estonia's national airline, offers direct air link between the Estonian capital, Tallinn and 21 destinations throughout Europe, and from Kuressaare, Pärnu and Tartu to Stockholm. In cooperation with partner airlines Estonian Air provides flights to more than 180 destinations in Europe and rest of the world.
Sokos Hotel Viru opera package – prices from EUR 80.5 per person (in double room). Includes: transfer from the hotel to the opera and back, opera ticket, accommodation in a Standard room with lavish breakfast, free entrance to the Cafe Amigo night club; free glass of sparkling wine with your meal at the Amarillo restaurant (you must present the ticket; the restaurant kitchen is open until 01:00); 15% discount on beauty services at the hotel’s beauty salon (you must present the ticket). Bookings: viru.reservation@sok.fi, or call +372 680 9300
News
