It’s remarkable that this is the first staged production of Parsifal in Victoria – especially considering the generous offering of Wagner in the state over recent years, most recently Melbourne Opera’s Flying Dutchman a few weeks ago, and Opera Australia’s Meistersinger von Nürnberg in November. It’s a classic case of being worth the wait, as Victorian Opera’s production of Wagner’s final work is musically excellent, and perceptively designed and directed.

Teddy Tahu Rhodes and James Roser in Parsifal. Photo © Jeff Busby

First performed in Bayreuth in 1878, Parsifal is a mix of Arthurian legend, Christian mysticism and a Buddhism-meets-Schopenhauer philosophy of salvation through compassion and asceticism. The tale centres on a holy order of knights led by Amfortas, who is profoundly wounded in both body and soul. His only hope of recovery is legend: an innocent who will become wise through compassion. Is it Parsifal, the stranger dismissed by senior knight Gurnemanz as a fool? He must prove his worth by confronting the evil sorcerer Klingsor, and Kundry, a shape-shifter who is both the knights’ wild servant and a beautiful if reluctant temptress. Meanwhile, Amfortas’ father Titurel hovers...