Parsifal

Synopsis

Wagnerian opera set amongst myths and legends. The tale of Parsifal is one of a young and pure man chosen to save the injured King and Kingdom of the Grail. On his path however, Parsifal must overcome the revengeful knight, Klingsor.

Our Review:

Keith McDonnell - 17 February 2011

Twelve years have passed since ENO last presented Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s thoughtful, probing staging of Wagner’s last opera. The wait has been long, but given the paucity of ideas on show in recent seasons, this intelligent production of Parsifal was a salutary reminder of what this company is capable of. Singing, conducting and staging were all of a piece, resulting in a performance that would rival any opera house in the world and also confirmed that Lehnhoff’s vision of the opera remains the most exciting staging of this work that London has ever seen.

Within Raimund Bauer’s austere post-apocalyptic designs Lehnhoff creates a world of decay – a world in which the Knights painfully re-enact their ‘act of communion’ against the backdrop of abject nihilism. Seemingly impervious to Amfortas’ anguish their sect has become rotten to the core, and the saviour, in the form of Parsifal, can’t come soon enough.

When he ...

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Latest User Review

Mark Wells - 28 February 2011:

The most intelligent and thoughtful production as well as stunning to look at. My only gripe is having to listen to it being sung in english - not only is it a terrible translation but it also sounds so wrong phonetically....

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