19-28 March 2005. Considered a seductive stroke of genius by Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner's sacred music drama Parsifal is the main event at this years Festtage 2005. The opera Parsifal about the Knights of the Holy Grail is sometimes considered Wagners most evocative and successful work in terms of answering the great composers quest for redemption through his work. Director and producer Bernd Eichinger has, more or less, been given free reign to develop his own interpretation of this majestic work. Accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on three of the total of five performances, the great composer and conductor Pierre Boulez will also be attending a celebration of his 80th birthday to lead the orchestra in a performance of some of his own compositions as well as a cycle of Bartk piano concertos and works by Mahler and Ravel. The performer Thomas Quasthoff will also be on hand to offer a recital during the nine-day musical festival. Tickets cost between 15 and 260. There is a 10 per cent discount for full cycle tickets.