Ep. 145 Parsifal by Wagner

Ep. 145 Parsifal by Wagner

Author: Opera for Everyone September 1, 2026 Duration: 2:11:05
Richard Wagner refused to call Parsifal an opera, but instead considered it a rite of “consecration.” For many years, its performance was restricted to the small German town of Bayreuth: the destination of a new kind of artistic/religious pilgrimage.   The story itself is somewhat perplexing; both mythic and strangely fragmentary.  It is a tale of knights, witches, sorcerers, and one pure innocent fool… all of them engaged in a mystical struggle between good and evil. It is this cosmic aspiration that has made Wagner’s final operatic composition an enduringly controversial work of art.  People adore Parsifal, revile it, groan at the thought of its great length, and celebrate its beauty and power… and often, do so all at once. Join Pat & Grant & Kathleen for an exploration of the most operatic not-opera ever written. For more cultural and arts commentary by Kathleen Van De Wille, visit Constructive Criticism on Substack.

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when the curtain rises, but you don’t need a ticket to experience it. Opera For Everyone is a conversation that pulls back the velvet rope, hosted by Pat Wright. It grew from her lively talks with Keely Herron after seeing performances together, sparking a mission to make this grand art form feel like a shared discovery rather than a distant spectacle. Each episode invites a guest co-host into the mix, where the focus is on connection-breaking down stories, history, and the sheer power of the human voice without relying on jargon or pretense. You’ll hear the music itself, of course, those moments where everything soars, but you’ll also find plenty of epiphanies and genuine hilarity along the way. It’s a reminder that opera is about raw emotion and dramatic storytelling, elements that resonate with anyone. Originally broadcast on 89.1 KHOL in Jackson, Wyoming, this radio show found its second life as a podcast, allowing these accessible and enjoyable discussions to reach listeners anywhere, anytime. Tune in and you might just find yourself swept up in a world you thought was meant for someone else.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Opera For Everyone
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