Mon, Apr. 21, 2025, 3.00 pm - 8.00 pm | Main Stage
Richard Wagner
Parsifal
Introduction at 2.20 pm
In his “Parsifal”, Wagner created a complex world of its own. It is complex because it consists of so many heterogeneous elements whose meaning is hard to comprehend, frequently drawing us onto paths leading nowhere. Thus, the many religious signs, symbols and rituals can only be understood as partial elements pointing to a world which must be interpreted as a whole. Elements of Christianity, such as the last supper, the goblet, blood, the spear and dove, or Schopenhauer’s idea that compassion might release man from his egocentricity, as well as Gnostic and Manichean motifs lead to partial interpretative approaches which are unsuitable for “Parsifal” as a whole. A theatrical world, however, can design a fictional cosmos in which all these elements can effectively participate, leaving the audience to interpret its own experiences as it sees fit.
Director, Set-, Costume- and Lightdesign: Achim Freyer
Artistic Collaboration: Sebastian Bauer
Set Design Collaboration: Moritz Nitsche
Costume Design Collaboration: Petra Weikert
Light Design Collaboration: Sebastian Alphons
Video: Jakob Klaffs/Hugo Reis
Dramaturgy: Klaus-Peter Kehr
Premiere: 16.9.2017
Two breaks of 25 minutes each after the 1st and 2nd act
In German with German and English surtitles
Supported by the Foundation for the Support of the Hamburg State Opera
