Richard Wagner’s final music drama is unlike anything that went before or has come since. It can feel more like a ritual ceremony than an opera – grand yet intimate, somehow occupying its own space and time. At the heart of Parsifal is a curious, magical treatment of the symphony orchestra that appears to give the voices above it all the space and autonomy they need.

Following award-winning concert performances of Peter Grimes with Stuart Skelton in the title role, the Australian tenor returns to Bergen in the same capacity for this Parsifal under chief conductor Edward Gardner. Joining them is a handpicked cast including Johan Reuter as the wounded Amfortas, Brindley Sherratt as the wise old Gurnemanz and Ricarda Merbeth as the teasing Kundry. Any performance of Parsifal is special. Focusing on Wagner’s miraculous, glowing music alone, this one is sure to prove truly memorable.

Edward Gardner, conductor

Nicolai Riise, Concert Staging

Parsifal: Stuart Skelton

Kundry: Ricarda Merbeth

Amfortas: Johan Reuter

Gurnemanz: Brindley Sherratt

Klingsor: Olafur Sigurdarson

Titurel: Wilhelm Schwinghammer

First Grail Knight: Eirik Grøtvedt

Second Grail Knight: Changdai Park

First Esquire: Ingeborg Gillebo

Second Esquire: Monika Jägerova

Third Esquire: John Olsen

Fourth Esquire: Erlend Tvinnereim

Voice from Above: Monika Jägerova

First Flowermaiden: Victoria Randem

Second Flowermaiden: Lydia Hoen Tjore

Third Flowermaiden: Olivera Ticevic

Fourth Flowermaiden: Emily Pogorelc

Fifth Flowermaiden: Ingeborg Gillebo

Sixth Flowermaiden: Margrethe Fredheim

Bergen Philharmonic Choir

Edvard Grieg Kor

Collegium Musicums Choir

Håkon Matti Skrede, chorus master

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra