In Parsifal, his final music drama, Wagner addresses the fear of earthly temptations and sinful desires by embedding them in a tale of redemption. The composer depicts this spiritual theme with a personal tone mixing religious and profane conceptions of love. “Just wait! Wagner’s not long for this world! A man who is capable of producing a thing of that order cannot have much time left on earth!” This was the reaction of the director of Leipzig’s theatre, who was particularly affected by the power of the sensual seduction dressed up as an Easter ceremony and the mysterious mixture of faith and music. 

The Opera timed the staging of the new production specifically for the Christian Season. Responsible for its visual world is Sebastian Hannak, who also designed those of Porgy and Bess and The Fairy Queen. Artistic Director András Almási-Tóth will direct, and Principal Musical Director Balázs Kocsár will conduct.

 

General cast

Conductor

 

Balázs Kocsár

 

Amfortas

 

Michele Kalmandy

 

Titurel

 

István Rácz

 

Gurnemanz

 

Gábor Bretz

 

Parsifal

 

Magnus Vigilius / István Kovácsházi

 

Klingsor

 

Károly Szemerédy

 

Kundry

 

Andrea Szántó

 

Old Kundry

 

Judit Németh

 

First page

 

Eszter Zavaros

 

Second page

 

Anna Fürjes univ. stud.

 

Third page

 

János Szerekován

 

Fourth page

 

Gergely Ujvári

 

I/1st flower-maiden

 

Lilla Horti

 

I/2nd flower-maiden

 

Ildikó Megyimórecz

 

I/3rd flower-maiden

 

Lusine Sahakyan

 

II/1st flower-maiden

 

Rita Rácz

 

II/2nd flower-maiden

 

Sárközi Xénia

 

II/3rd flower-maiden

 

Melinda Heiter

 

Parsifal's Mother / A Voice from above

 

Gabriella Balga

 

Young Parsifal

 

Kóbor Demeter

 

Flower-maidens

 

Emma Lőrincz / Laura Fehér / Emese Nagy / Tünde Tonhaizer / Bea Egyed

Credits

Librettist

 

Richard Wagner

 

Director

 

András Almási-Tóth

 

Set designer

 

Sebastian Hannak

 

Costume designer

 

Izsák Lili

 

Choreographer

 

Dóra Barta

 

Dramaturg

 

Enikő Perczel

 

Chorus director

 

Gábor Csiki

Premiere

 

April 10, 2020