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PARSIFAL
Over seven years in the making, this new film of Parsifal combines, live action performance, animation, and manipulation of several thousand paintings to bring the world of Richard Wagner's last drama to life on screen.
Set to Sir Georg Solti's recording with the Vienna Philharmonic, all available means of cinematic expression are here employed to create a new vision of Parsifal in which it can be said: "zum Raum wird hier die Zeit." *
PRELUDE TO ACT I (SELECTION) - EXCERPT FROM PARSIFAL
A selection from the end of the prelude to the first act of Parsifal. The king of the Temple of the Holy Grail, Amfortas, ventures into the realm of the sorcerer Klingsor, the sworn enemy of his aged father. Against this foe he brings the Holy Spear, the same weapon which dealt the wound into the side of der Erlöser (the Redeemer) during His crucifixion.
Expecting a confrontation with the enemy, Amfortas is instead greeted by the apparition of an enchantress. With the King distracted, Klingsor suddenly appears to seize the Spear and with it deals a Wound into Amfortas' side.
"I SAW THE CHILD AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST" - EXCERPT FROM PARSIFAL
Kundry recounts the hero Parsifal's isolated forest upbringing in the hands of his young, widowed mother (a moment typically rendered as sung-only exposition in theatrical productions). The images here are soft and hazy as Parsifal is lured by Kundry's tender melodies into the snare of Klingsor's magic garden.
"TERRIBLE DISTRESS" - EXCERPT FROM PARSIFAL
Klingsor has awoken Kundry who, imprisoned by his magic, still tries to defy him through scorn and ridicule. Klingsor narrates the woeful tale of his rejection from the Knights of the Holy Grail and his failure to attain the holiness he so greatly desired.
"CODA: THE WOUND THAT WILL NOT CLOSE" - EXCERPT FROM PARSIFAL
An epilogue to the second act of Parsifal, Kundry suffers a ghastly disfigurement in the aftermath of the destruction of Klingsor's castle. She cannot die and shall continue in this cycle of suffering until freed from her curse. This scene was added specifically for this film as a coda, of sorts, at the conclusion of the second act.
„Du sieh'st, mein Sohn, zum Raum wird hier die Zeit.“
"You see my son, here, time turns into space."
– Gurnemanz, Parsifal
Act I, Scene I*
CREDITS
Parsifal: Ein Bühnenweihfestspiel written and composed by Richard Wagner
Conducted by Sir Georg Solti with the Vienna Philharmonic
DIRECTION, EDITING, COLOR GRADING
Griffin Kaiser
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ashley Marzulla, Griffin Kaiser
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Anthony Miksad
ADDITIONAL SOUND DESIGN
Aidan Wells
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
Kundry — Rachael Vinci (vocal performance: Christa Ludwig)
Klingsor — Kevin Bapp (vocal performance: Zoltán Kelemen)
Klingsor — Kevin Bapp (vocal performance: Zoltán Kelemen)
Young Amfortas — John Ölçer
Young Klingsor — Connor Wilcoxen
Young Klingsor — Connor Wilcoxen
ADDITIONAL CREW
Fiona Bailey
Amos Chiu
English subtitles adapted from the translation by Derrick Everett, which can be viewed on his website, monsalvat.no
Minor alterations to this translation have been made for subtitle flow and clarity.