Danish bass Stephen Milling won Artist of the Year in 2003/04 for his virile, nuanced Gurnemanz. Seattle Opera’s only production of “Parsifal” opened the newly renovated McCaw Hall: a magnificent (and non-denominational) performance of a work which Wagner himself called a "Stage-Consecrating Festival Drama,” and consecrate the McCaw Hall stage the production certainly did! Asher Fisch made his Seattle Opera debut conducting this amazing work, which was directed by François Rochaix and designed by Robert Israel, the team responsible for Seattle Opera's RING 2. The production also starred Christopher Ventris as Parsifal, Linda Watson as Kundry, Greer Grimsley as Amfortas, Richard Paul Fink as Klingsor, and Kevin Langan as Titurel.

In this passage from Act Three, Parsifal, made wise by compassion, has returned to the kingdom of the grail after long years of weary wandering. Kundry bathes his feet with her hair and Gurnemanz anoints his head and prepares him to become the leader who will bring sanity and healing back to the ravaged land.

Christopher Ventris as Parsifal, Stephen Milling as Gurnemanz, Asher Fisch conducts the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Chris Bennion.