Parsifal

Parsifal is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's medieval epic Parzival, the 13th century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival (Percival) and his quest for the Holy Grail. Wagner first conceived the work in April 1857 but it was not completed until twenty-five years later. The first production was in Bayreuth in 1882.

Instrumentation

• Piccolo
• 3 Flutes
• 3 Oboes
• Alto Oboe (a cor anglais is usually used today in place of Wagner's now obsolete alto oboe)
• 3 Clarinets
• Bass clarinet
• 3 Bassoons
• Double bassoon
• 4 Horns
• 3 Trumpets
• 3 Trombones
• Contrabass tuba
• Timpani
• 2 Harps
• Strings

On- or Off-stage instruments

• 6 Trumpets
• 6 Trombones
• Tenor drum
• Bell
• Thunder machine