Parsifal: A Mystical Drama by Richard Wagner Retold in the Spirit of the Bayreuth Interpretation
By Richard Wagner and Oliver Huckel
()
About this ebook
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner is the former editor of Ad Astra, the journal of the National Space Society. He lives in Northhampton, Massachusetts.
Read more from Richard Wagner
Case for Mars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTristan and Isolda: Opera in Three Acts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTristan und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rhinegold and The Valkyrie - The Ring of the Niblung - Volume I - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ride of the Valkyries Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Conducting (Üeber Das Dirigiren) : A Treatise on Style in the Execution of Classical Music Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Lohengrin: Preludes to Acts 1 and 3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTristan and Isolda Opera in Three Acts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSiegfried-Idyll: WWV 103 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristian Prayer For Dummies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTannhäuser: Overture to the Opera Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ring of the Nibelung (Illustrated Edition): Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSiegfried & the Twilight of the Gods - The Ring of the Nibelung - Volume II - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Life — Volume 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDer Fliegende Holländer The Flying Dutchman Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBalanced Budgets, Fiscal Responsibility, and The Constitution: (Cato Public Policy Research Monograph No. 1) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ring of the Nibelung: Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLevittown Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPilgrim's Chorus - Brass Quintet/Ensemble (score & parts): Tannhäuser Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rienzi: Overture to the Opera Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParsifal A Mystical Drama By Richard Wagner Retold In The Spirit Of The Bayreuth Interpretation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5From the Boiler Room to the Living Room: The Financial Services Revolution and What it Means to You and Your Clients Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRichard Wagner's Ring of the Niblung Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Flying Dutchman: Overture to the Opera Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mastersingers of Nuremberg: Prelude Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Parsifal
Related ebooks
Parsifal: A Mystical Drama by Richard Wagner Retold in the Spirit of the Bayreuth Interpretation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParsifal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Parsifal Story and Analysis of Wagner's Great Opera Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParsifal: Story and Analysis of Wagner's Great Opera Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Holy Grail: The Quest for the Renewal of the Mysteries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRussian Folktales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Legendary History of the Cross: A Series of Sixty-four Woodcuts from a Dutch Book Published by Veldener, A.D. 1483 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Virgin in Song: Mary and the Poetry of Romanos the Melodist Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Nightingale: together with Hymns from the Office of the Passion of the Lord Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRenaissance Fancies and Studies Being a Sequel to Euphorion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Perfect Wagnerite Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAesthetic Poetry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMyths of the Norsemen - From the Eddas and Sagas Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Russian Folk-Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWagner’s Parsifal: An Appreciation in the Light of His Theological Journey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsModern Musical Drift Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Norsemen Saga Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Perfect Wagnerite (Barnes & Noble Digital Library): A Commentary on the Niblung's Ring Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Spiritual Values in Shakespeare Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Story of the Hymns and Tunes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Standard Oratorios: Their Stories, Their Music, And Their Composers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRig Veda Americanus (Illustrated): Sacred songs of the ancient Mexicans, with a gloss in Nahuatl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Legend of the Holy Graal. Book II Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristmas Carols Ancient and Modern Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Himn of the Robe of Glory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of the Epic The World's Great Epics Told in Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Grail: The Celtic Origins of the Sacred Icon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Vampire: Origins of a European Myth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Growth of English Drama Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Performing Arts For You
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Midsummer Night's Dream, with line numbers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Yes Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Macbeth (new classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5For colored girls who have considered suicide/When the rainbow is enuf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lucky Dog Lessons: From Renowned Expert Dog Trainer and Host of Lucky Dog: Reunions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coreyography: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hamlet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unsheltered: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Robin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Woman Is No Man: A Read with Jenna Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Town: A Play in Three Acts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Importance of Being Earnest: A Play Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wuthering Heights Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Diamond Eye: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hollywood's Dark History: Silver Screen Scandals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Whale / A Bright New Boise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Best Women's Monologues from New Plays, 2020 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Romeo and Juliet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book: The Script Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Dolls House Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Trial Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count Of Monte Cristo (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Parsifal
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Parsifal - Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner, Oliver Huckel
Parsifal
A Mystical Drama by Richard Wagner Retold in the Spirit of the Bayreuth Interpretation
EAN 8596547245636
DigiCat, 2022
Contact: DigiCat@okpublishing.info
Table of Contents
FOREWORD
PARSIFAL. PART I
THE COMING OF PARSIFAL
PARSIFAL. PART II
THE TEMPTING OF PARSIFAL
PARSIFAL. PART III.
THE CROWNING OF PARSIFAL
FOREWORD
PART I The Coming of Parsifal
PART II The Tempting of Parsifal
PART III The Crowning of Parsifal
ILLUSTRATED BY FRANZ STASSEN
FOREWORD
Table of Contents
The Parsifal of Richard Wagner was not only the last and loftiest work of his genius, but it is also one of the few great dramas of modern times,—a drama which unfolds striking and impressive spiritual teachings. Indeed, Parsifal may be called Richard Wagner's great confession of faith. He takes the legend of the Holy Grail, and uses it to portray wonderfully and thrillingly the Christian truths of the beauty, the glory, and the inspiring power of the Lord's Supper, and the infinite meaning of the redeeming love of the Cross. He reveals in this drama by poetry and music, and with a marvellous breadth and depth of spiritual conception, this theme (in his own words): The founder of the Christian religion was not wise: He was divine. To believe in Him is to imitate Him and to seek union with Him…. In consequence of His atoning death, everything which lives and breathes may know itself redeemed…. Only love rooted in sympathy and expressed in action to the point of a complete destruction of self-will, is Christian love.
(Wagner's Letters, 1880, pages 270, 365, 339.)
The criticism has sometimes been made that the basic religious idea of Parsifal is Buddhistic rather than Christian; that it is taken directly from the philosophy of Schopenhauer, who was perhaps as nearly a Buddhist as was possible for an Occidental mind to be; that the dominating idea in Parsifal is compassion as the essence of sanctity, and that Wagner has merely clothed this fundamental Buddhistic idea with the externals of Christian form and symbolism. This criticism is ingenious. It may also suggest that all great religions in their essence have much which is akin. But no one who reads carefully Wagner's own letters during the time that he was brooding over his Parsifal can doubt that he was trying in this drama to express in broadest and deepest way the essentials of Christian truth. Christianity has no need to go to Buddhism to find such a fundamental conception as that of an infinite compassion as a revelation of God.
The legend of the Grail, as Wagner uses it, has in it the usual accompaniments of mediaeval tradition,—something of paganism and magic. But these pagan elements are only contrasts to the purity and splendor of the simple Christian truth portrayed. The drama suggests the early miracle and mystery plays of the Christian Church; but more nearly, perhaps, it reminds one of those great religious dramas, scenic and musical, which were given at night at Eleusis, near Athens, in the temple of the Mysteries, before the initiated ones among the Greeks in the days of Pericles and Plato. Here at Bayreuth the mystic drama is given before its thousands of devout pilgrims and music-lovers who gather to the little town as to a sacred spot from all parts of the world,—from Russia, Italy, France, England, and America,—and who enter into the spirit of this noble drama and feast of music as if it were a religious festival in a temple of divine mysteries.
The sources of Wagner's story deserve a few words. The legend of the Holy Grail took many forms during the Middle Ages. It was told in slightly varying way in the twelfth century by the French writers Robert de Borron and Chrestien de Troyes, and in the early thirteenth century by Wolfram von Eschenbach in the strong German speech of Thuringia. The substance of these legends was that the precious cup, used for the wine at the Last Supper, and also used to receive the Saviour's blood at the Cross, was forever after cherished as the Holy Grail. It was carried from the Holy Land by Joseph of Arimathea and taken first to Gaul and later to Spain to a special sanctuary among the mountains, which was named Monsalvat. Here it was to be cherished and guarded by a holy band of Knights of the Grail. The same legend appears in the chronicles of Sir Thomas Malory, but instead of Gaul, early Britain is the place to which the Grail is brought. Tennyson's The Holy Grail
in