Parsifal

Parsifal at Glyndebourne.

Fascinated by the production

Psychology of 19th century literature, dour and dark green interiors, and gothic, neo-romantic atmosphere.

Something of Chekov, yes but also Henry James - neurotic, ornate. Privileged, yet trapped.

Brilliantly shifted from Christian mysticism to Bourgeois 19th century interiors.

Violence of the church, attack on the 'fool', the individual.

So many extraordinary scenes.

The madness and seductiveness of Kundry. Multiple Kundrys. Disney like spawning of Kundrys. Bizarre eroticism of sirens. Strange enactment of male desires, fantasies and misogyny.

Amazing singing and use of the chorus - distance and intense, overwhelming proximity.

John Tomlinson - frail - invocatory, as Tul... father of x, he staggers about the stage - then towards end of Act 1 finally bursts into song, demanding that Amfortas delivers the rite.

Psychoanalysis - psychology. These ideas coming out of Wagner and into Freud and Nietzche. This is a point made by Irvin D Yalom about Schopenhauer - the ideas of post-religion sublimation of desire and sexuality are all in Schopenhauer, before Freud.

Ultimately, deeply unsettling experience. What is ritual really about? Yet compelling and brilliant.