Titurel

Titurel (Wagner: Parsifal). Bass. Father of Amfortas. He is a former ruler (the first) of the Kingdom of the Grail, and has now handed over to his son. Gurnemanz describes how Titurel was given the care of the Grail (the chalice from which Christ drank at the Last Supper) and the Spear (which was in Christ's side on the Cross). When he became too old to continue caring for these relics, Amfortas took over the responsibility. Titurel's voice is heard as he pleads with his son, now seriously injured, to perform the tasks of his office. Amfortas, weak and in pain, asks his father to do it himself, but Titurel says he is too old. Titurel dies, his funeral being the final scene in the opera. Created (1882) by August Kindermann. Although this is not a large role, and Titurel never appears on stage, only his voice being heard, many famous basses have happily sung the part. In this century these have included Richard Mayr, Josef von Manowarda, Josef Greindl, Hermann Uhde, Hans Hotter, Theo Adam, David Ward, Ludwig Weber, Martti Talvela, Karl Böhme, Karl Ridderbusch, Hans Sotin, and Matti Salminen.