Work of the Week – Richard Wagner: Parsifal

By Christopher Peter
6 Apr 2025

Collage showing a golden, steaming Holy Grail in the foreground, surrounded by blue smoke and glowing particles. On the right, a sepia-toned portrait of Richard Wagner.

Revival at the Goetheanum with an outstanding cast: On 13, 18, and 20 April 2025, Richard Wagner's opera Parsifal returns to the Goetheanum stage in Dornach in a production by Jasmin Solfaghari. Conducted by Roland Fister, the title role will be sung by Roman Payer and Klaus Florian Vogt. The Philharmonie Baden-Baden and the Vokalwerk of the Heidenheim Opera Festival perform alongside the Goetheanum Eurythmy Ensemble and Else-Klink-Ensemble.

A spiritual milestone with first-class performance materials

Wagner’s final stage work Parsifal is a deeply philosophical music drama exploring themes of compassion, guilt, and redemption. The performances in Dornach use the scholarly edition of the Richard Wagner Complete Edition, published exclusively by Schott Music. This edition is the global standard for Wagner scores. Wagner and Schott had a close relationship in the second half of the 19th century and the collaboration on his last stage work Parsifal was long regarded as the most elaborate production in the history of publishing.

Parsifal – between sacred ritual and personal transformation

Parsifal tells the story of the “pure fool” who attains spiritual insight through compassion and becomes the new Grail king. The opera features mystical orchestration, emotional depth, and challenging yet rewarding choral and orchestral writing.

Direction as Gesamtkunstwerk – the book on this production

Jasmin Solfaghari’s book “Ich schreite kaum, doch wähn' ich mich schon weit” offers a behind-the-scenes look at her staging of Parsifal at the Goetheanum. Published by Schott Music, the book is a perfect companion to the production.