Valery Gergiev will conduct Richard Wagner’s opera Parsifal at the Mariinsky Theatre’s Historical Stage on Thursday.
The lead role will be played by Mikhail Vekua.
“Parsifal opera was conceived by the composer as a service, a divine service. Saturated with a deep history, it can be interpreted in different ways. Those who love the mystery will surely find a sacred meaning in it. And I think it’s there,” said Vekua.
According to him, not only music is important in Parsifal. “The poetic gift of Wagner, who wrote unique texts, is significant there,” said the Mariinsky Theater soloist.
The performance also includes Anna Markarova, Evgeny Nikitin, Mikhail Petrenko, Yuri Vorobyov and Gleb Peryazev.
The play premiered in 1997.
In Russia, Parsifal can only be seen and heard in the Mariinsky Theatre. It was staged here with British film director Tony Palmer and returned to the stage in an updated form in 2018, renewing the Mariinsky Wagneriana with one of the most important works by the legendary composer.