Wagner's Parsifal

Book excerpt: Parsifal was Richard Wagner's last opera, and many consider it his most beautiful and moving work. Peter Bassett, author of the highly successful A RING FOR THE MILLENNIUM, has made a special study of Parsifal, looking particularly at the relationship between Wagner's sources and his text and identifying important thematic connections with other works, notably DER RING DES NIBELUNG. This guide - which includes a translation of the libretto - will be invaluable to those new to Parsifal, but will also provide fresh insights for readers who are already familiar with Wagner's final work. This new edition is illustrated with historical photographs and a new format.