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- Parsifal is an opera or a music drama in three acts by the German composer Richard Wagner and his last composition. Protected by his mother throughout his childhood from any contact with the world, to keep him pure and innocent, Parsifal, having despite this discovered evil and sin, manages after a long, epic interior journey to discover the Grail, the fullness of life and the quietude of the soul.
- Wagner's opera in 3 acts is set in legendary Brittany and Cornwall, with a tragic love story that revolves around the themes of love, night, and death. Isolde is being brought from Ireland to Cornwall by Tristan to be the bride of his uncle, King Mark. Isolde is angry at Tristan because he slew Morold, Isolde's betrothed, who came from Ireland to exact tribute from Cornwall. However, when she sees Tristan, her feelings begin to change. She plans to poison him, but when she and Tristan drink from the same cup, it turns out that Brangäne, her maid and confidante, has filled it with a love potion. At King Mark's castle, the young lovers meet at night for trysts, while Brangäne stands guard. Mark and his courtiers go off hunting one night, and Brangäne warns Isolde Melot, Tristan's supposed friend, has arranged the nocturnal hunt as a trap. Isolde and Tristan disregard this and sing love songs to each other. Then King Mark, Melot and the courtiers burst in on them as the sun begins to rise. Mark asks how they could do this; Tristan says he is willing to go into the realm of night, and Isolde says she will follow him there. Melot and Tristan have a swordfight, and Tristan allows himself to be wounded. In Act 3, Tristan is dying at his castle in Brittany. His servant and friend, Kurwenal, watches over him. They watch for a ship that will bring Isolde, and at last she comes. They share a last moment of love, then he dies in her arms. A second ship arrives with King Mark, who plans to let Tristan and Isolde remain together. Kurwenal attacks them and is slain; Isolde falls on to Tristan's body, dying of grief.
- When Daland and his Norwegian sailors spot the Dutchman's ship, they hail him. He tells them that he is doomed to sail the seas and can come on land once every seven years to seek redemption from the curse. Daland, who is rather greedy, hopes the wealthy stranger will marry his daughter, although Erik, a young hunter, has already been courting her. They go to Daland's house, where Senta promises obedience to her father's wishes. She has been feeling that Erik is a little bit too conventional and boring and she finds the stranger mysterious and romantic, so she sings her desire to be the woman who can redeem the Dutchman. He warns that her fate won't be pretty if she swears fidelity but fails to keep it, but Senta has fallen in love at first sight and pledges her faithfulness unto death. Party time! But when the sailors and their women call to the Dutch ship for the crew to come ashore and join the celebration, it becomes clear that the ship is manned by ghosts.
- Tannhäuser (tenor) is sick of the sensual pleasures of the Venusberg and longs for the simple joys of earthly life. The love goddess Venus (soprano) summons a magic grotto and tempts him to surrender to ecstasy, but Tannhäuser invokes the Virgin Mary and Venus disappears. Hermann (bass), the Landgrave of Thuringia, and minstrels approach. Wolfram says that in their earlier song-contests, Tannhäuser won the love of Elisabeth (soprano), the Landgrave's niece. Going to the Hall of Song, Tannhäuser throws himself at Elisabeth's feet. They sing together of love. The Landgrave announces a new song contest; the winner will receive his prize from Elisabeth herself. Wolfram (baritone) sings first and uses the image of a fountain to sing of the purity of love. The audience enjoys his song, but Tannhäuser retorts that the fountain of love fills him only with burning desire. Another minstrel, Biterolf (bass), speaks on behalf of the outraged knights and ladies when he challenges Tannhäuser to a combat. Tannhäuser mocks Biterolf's inexperience in the joys of true love. Wolfram attempts to calm everyone down, but Tannhäuser sings a hymn to Venus. The knights want to kick Tannhäuser's butt, but Elisabeth begs them to forgive him, and Tannhäuser falls to the ground with a cry of grief. The Landgrave tells Tannhäuser that his only hope of salvation is to join the band of pilgrims preparing to make their way to Rome. However, when the pilgrims return, Elisabeth sees that Tannhäuser is not among them. When Tannhäuser returns, he tells Wolfram that he saw the Pope, who condemned him by saying that if he has enjoyed the delights of the Venusberg, he can no more be forgiven than the Pope's staff can sprout green leaves. Wolfram is horrified when Tannhäuser declares he will return to the Venusberg.
- Wotan wants to steal the gold from the Nibelungen.
- Siegfried needs a sword to kill the dragon Fafner and get the magic ring he guards.
- The Valkyries are warrior maidens conceived to collect the souls of the heroes killed in battle to bring them to their rest eternal in the Walhalla.