PARSIFAL.

BROADCAST OF APRIL 7, 2001 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 12 NOON

THE STORY

ACT I. In a forest near the castle of Monsalvat, Gurnemanz, knight of the Holy Grail, rises with his two young Esquires from sleep. Two other Knights arrive to prepare a morning bath for their ailing leader, Amfortas, who has an incurable wound. They are interrupted by Kundry, an ageless woman of many guises, who rushes in wildly with balsam for Amfortas. The king and his suite enter, accept the gift and proceed to the nearby lake ("Recht so! Habt Dank!"). As Gurnemanz bewails Amfortas's wound ("Oh, wundenwundervoller heiliger Speer"), his companions ask him to tell about the sorcerer Klingsor, who once tried to join the knightly brotherhood. Denied because of his worldly lust, he tried to gain acceptance by castrating himself and again was rejected. Now an implacable foe, Klingsor entrapped Amfortas with the aid of a beautiful woman: while the king was lying in her arms, Klingsor snatched the king's holy spear (the same which had pierced Christ's side) and stabbed Amfortas. The wound can be healed only by an innocent youth made wise through compassion ("Durch Mitleid wissend"). Suddenly a swan falls to the ground, struck by an arrow. The knights drag in a youth, Parsifal, whom Gurnemanz rebukes for shooting the bird. The boy flings away his bow and arrows in shame. Kundry tells the youth's story: his father, Gamuret, died in battle; his mother, Herzeleide, reared the boy in the forest, but now she too is dead ("Den Vaterlosen gebar die Mutter"). As the knights carry Amfortas's litter back, Gurnemanz leads Parsifal to the castle, wondering if he may be the prophecy's fulfillment.

In the lofty Hall of the Grail, Amfortas and his knights prepare to commemorate the Last Supper ("Zum letzten Liebesmahle"). The voice of the leader's father, Titurel, bids him uncover the holy vessel, but Amfortas hesitates, his anguish rising in the presence of Christ's blood ("Nein! Lasst ihn unenthullt!"). Titurel orders the Esquires to uncover the chalice, which casts a glow about the hall. As bread and wine are offered, an invisible choir is heard from above ("Wein und Brot"). Parsifal understands nothing, though he clutches his heart when Amfortas cries out in pain. Gurnemanz drives the uncomprehending boy away ("Was stehst du noch da?").

ACT II. Klingsor summons his thrall Kundry to seduce Parsifal ("Herauf! Hieher! Zu mir!"). Having secured the spear, he hopes to destroy Parsifal, whom he recognizes as the order's salvation. Kundry, hoping for redemption, protests in vain.

In Klingsor's magic garden, Flower-maidens beg for Parsifal's embrace ("Komm, holder Knabe!"), but he resists them, and they disappear. Kundry, transformed into a siren, woos him with tender memories of his childhood and mother ("Ich sah das Kind"). As she offers a passionate kiss, the youth recoils, understanding at last the mystery of Amfortas's wound and his own mission ("Amfortas -- die Wunde!"). Kundry now tries to lure him through pity for the weary life she has been forced to lead ever since she laughed at Christ on the cross ("Seit Ewigkeiten harre ich deiner"), but again she is repulsed. Cursing Parsifal to wander hopelessly in search of Monsalvat, she calls on Klingsor, who hurls the holy spear. The youth catches it and makes the sign of the cross ("Mit diesem Zeichen bann' ich deinen Zauber"), causing the castle to vanish.

ACT III. Gurnemanz, now an old hermit, finds the penitent Kundry exhausted in a thicket. As he revives her, a knight in armor approaches. Gurnemanz recognizes Parsifal and the spear. The knight describes years of trying to find his way back to Amfortas and the Grail ("Der Irrniss und der Leiden Pfade"). Gurnemanz removes Parsifal's armor. Kundry washes his feet, drying them with her hair. In return he baptizes her, then exclaims at the beauty of the spring fields (Good Friday Spell). Distant bells announce the funeral of Titurel. They walk toward the castle. The Communion table has vanished from the Hall of the Grail. No longer able to uncover the chalice, ...