Wagner's Parsifal: The Music of Redemption

One of Britain's leading intellectuals explores Wagner's last opera, Parsifal, which tells the story of Parsifal, a pure fool who has been called to rescue the Kingdom of the Grail from the sins that have polluted it. Wagner's music ties together suffering and contrition, sin and forgiveness, downfall and redemption in an inextricable knot, healing the fractures and uniting the warring elements in human life in a way that is clear, convincing, and uncanny. This book explains the story, its musical ideas, and their coming together into a sublime whole that gives us the musical equivalent of forgiveness and closure.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2021
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

A profoundly insightful and emotionally moving exploration of Wagner's final opera, penned by one of Britain's foremost intellectuals

Wagner's final music-drama, "Parsifal," tells the captivating tale of Parsifal, the pure fool, guided by compassion, who is summoned to cleanse the Kingdom of the Grail from the sins that have tainted it. The Grail represents purity in a world of lust and power, yet the redemption sought by Parsifal's characters deviates significantly from the Christian archetype. For Wagner, redemption emerges in this earthly existence, where compassion triumphs over enslavement, and purity replaces spiritual pollution. His music weaves together the threads of suffering, contrition, sin, and forgiveness, creating an intricate tapestry that heals the fractures and unites the conflicting aspects of human existence in a manner that is both clear and convincing, yet utterly uncanny.

More than any other of his works, "Parsifal" expresses a depth of feeling that defies verbal expression. In this concise yet profound book, written by a writer who possessed dual expertise as a leading philosopher and musicologist, we are granted a unique perspective on how Wagner accomplished this profound masterpiece. The author elucidates the story, delves into its musical concepts, and showcases how they seamlessly come together to form a sublime entirety, offering us the musical equivalent of forgiveness and closure.

Few writers possess the ability to enrich our understanding of one of the greatest works in Western music to the extent that this author does. Through their insightful analysis and captivating storytelling, they have unveiled the profound essence of "Parsifal," leaving us with a lasting appreciation for Wagner's unparalleled artistic brilliance.

Weight: 152g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141991665