Wagner: Parsifal (Bayreuth 2023)
Opera
Scheib, Heras-Casado
Production Date: 25/07/2023
Duration255 Min
Video Formats
Any new production of Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival – in the theatre for which Wagner conceived his "Bühnenweihfestspiel" – is a major operatic event. But US director Jay Scheib's new staging for the 2023 Festival, which will employ Augmented Reality, is likely to break new boundaries in terms of technological innovation – even for a theatre whose history is bound up with revolutionary theatrical ideas. Pablo Heras-Casado, making his Bayreuth debut, conducts a superb cast, with tenor Andreas Schager and mezzo Elīna Garanča – also making a highly anticipated Bayreuth debut as Kundry – leading the line-up alongside Georg Zeppenfeld's seasoned Gurnemanz.
- Soloists:
- Derek Welton (Baritone), Elīna Garanča (Mezzo-Soprano), Georg Zeppenfeld (Bass), Tobias Kehrer (Bass), Jordan Shanahan (Bass), Andreas Schager (Tenor)
- Ensembles:
- Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele
- Conductor:
- Pablo Heras-Casado
Venues, Festivals & Series
Documentaries, Interviews, Short Videos
Richard Wagner’s Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival 2023
Scheib, Heras-Casado
Production date: 25.07.2023
The new production of Parsifal at the Bayreuther Festspielen 2023 was one of the most significant opera events of the year. Richard Wagners final opera, which he described as a "stage consecration festival play" (Bühnenweihfestspiel), was designed specifically for the Bayreuth Festspielhaus and reveals its full effect there.
However, under the direction of Jay Scheib the work takes on an entirely new light: the renowned U.S. director and MIT professor employs augmented reality, adding a new visual dimension to the staging. As a result, Parsifal becomes not only a musical but also a technologically innovative experience. This approach breathes new life into the traditional opera world, immersing the audience in an extended, virtual reality.
Plot and Musical Direction of the Opera
The plot of Parsifal is based on medieval legends surrounding the Holy Grail, combining spiritual themes with psychological depth. At its center is the naive hero Parsifal, who undergoes purification and enlightenment on his journey. The libretto, written by Wagner himself, is as rich in meaning as the music.
Under the baton of Pablo Heras-Casado, who made his Bayreuth debut in 2023, the opera is given a fresh and dynamic interpretation. He manages to keep the nearly five-hour performance engaging, making the music compelling and varied across all three acts.
World-Class Cast in Bayreuth
The cast of the Parsifal production at the 2023 Bayreuth Festival was outstanding, delivering musical brilliance. In the role of Kundry, Elīna Garanča made her highly acclaimed Bayreuth debut — a world-class mezzo-soprano who impressed with expressive power and stage presence. Andreas Schager delivered a powerful performance as Parsifal with his commanding tenor voice. The cast also included Georg Zeppenfeld as Gurnemanz, Derek Welton as Amfortas, as well as Tobias Kehrer, Jordan Shanahan and other renowned singers.
The soloists were accompanied by the Bayreuther Festspielchor and the Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele which — under the direction of Pablo Heras-Casado — performed at the highest musical level. This impressive ensemble made the production one of the musical highlights of the 2023 festival season.
Stream Wagner’s Parsifal in Premium Quality on STAGE+
If you couldn’t experience this extraordinary opera event live in Bayreuth, STAGE+ has you covered. On our streaming platform, you can watch the Parsifal performance from the 2023 Bayreuth Festival in top video and audio quality. With us, you’ll experience Richard Wagner’s visionary Bühnenweihfestspiel in an artistically and technologically outstanding production — anytime, anywhere!
