|
 |
||
Summary of Act 3
urnemanz, now an aged hermit, once again
finds the sleeping Kundry, still and apparently lifeless, in
the undergrowth near his hut. As he revives her, a strange
knight, in full armour and carrying a spear, approaches. Gurnemanz
reproaches him for bearing arms on this most holy of days,
Good Friday. Then he recognises
the sacred spear and the knight as
the boy who had once killed a swan. Parsifal describes his long and weary
wanderings in search of Monsalvat. The hermit reveals that the
Community of the Grail has long been in decay, since
Amfortas
refuses to uncover the chalice, and Titurel has died.
Parsifal
laments that he had arrived too late to save him. 
urnemanz and Kundry help him to remove his armour.
Today shall Parsifal bring healing to the Grail King and take over his office and
duties. Gurnemanz first baptizes Parsifal with holy
water and then anoints him as King while Kundry washes his
feet. In return, as his first duty (Mein erstes
Amt
), Parsifal baptises
her and kisses her on her forehead. She weeps. Parsifal gazes upon the beauty of the
spring meadows. The hermit tells him that this is the magic
of Good Friday, when all creation
gives thanks. The tolling of distant bells summon them to the funeral rites of
Titurel.
n the hall of the Grail Castle, all is gloom and despair.
The knights, long deprived
of the divine nourishment, are barely alive and approach
Amfortas
threateningly. Amfortas begs them end his suffering by
taking his life. Parsifal, followed by Kundry and Gurnemanz, strides
into the centre of the hall and touches Amfortas' wound with the sacred
spear, declaring him healed and
relieved of his duties. He returns the spear, which begins to bleed. Parsifal orders that the Grail shall be uncovered and raises it
aloft as the knights,
including Amfortas, kneel in homage. Kundry falls dead at
his feet.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |