The scene changes to the great hall of the castle and the celebration of the feast of the Grail.  The scene is introduced with a solemn march by full orchestra, including trombones on the stage, accompanied by the clanging of bells as the knights enter in stately procession.  They sing a pious chant in unison, the march theme still sounding.  As the younger squires and pages enter, a new melody is taken in three-part harmony, and finally an unseen chorus of boys from the extreme height of the dome sing the chorale from the introduction, without accompaniment, in imitation of angel voices.  The shield-bearers bring in Amfortas upon his litter, when suddenly from a vaulted niche is heard the voice of Titurel, Amfortas’s aged father, and the founder of Monsalvat, now too feeble to perform the holy offices, bidding the Grail to be uncovered.  Amfortas, mourning that he, the unholiest of them, should be called, opens a golden shrine and takes out the crystal vessel.  Darkness falls upon the hall, but the Grail is illuminated with constantly increasing brilliancy, while from the dome the children’s voices sing, “Take My blood in the name of our love, and take My body in remembrance of me.”  Parsifal watches the scene with bewildered eyes, but upon saying in reply that he does not understand the holy rite, he is contemptuously ejected from the place.

The second act reveals Klingsor’s enchanted palace.  The magician gazing into a mirror sees Parsifal approaching, and knows he is the redeemer who has been promised.  He summons Kundry before him, and commands her to tempt him with her spells.  She struggles against the task, for in her soul the powers of good and evil are always contending for the mastery.  She longs for eternal sleep, and rest from her evil passions, but Klingsor holds her in his power.  Parsifal enters, and the scene changes to a delightful garden filled with girls of ravishing beauty in garments of flowers.  They crowd about him, and by their fascinating blandishments seek to gain his love, but in vain.  He is still the “guileless fool.”  Then Kundry appears in all her loveliness, and calls him by name, the name he had heard his mother speak.  He sorrowfully sinks at Kundry’s feet.  The enchantress bends over him, appeals to him through his longing for his mother, and kisses him.  Instantly he comprehends all that he has seen, and he cries, “The wound burns in my heart, oh, torment of love!” Then quickly rising he spurns her from him.  He has gained the world-knowledge.  She flies to him again, and passionately exclaims, “The gift of my love would make thee divine.  If this hour has made thee the redeemer, let me suffer forever, but give me thy love.”  He spurns her again, and cries, “To all eternity thou wouldst be damned with me, if for one hour I should forget my mission,” but says he will save her too, and demands to know the way to Amfortas.  In rage she declares he shall never find it, and summons the help of Klingsor, who hurls the sacred lance at Parsifal.  The weapon remains suspended over his head.  He seizes it and makes the sign of the Cross.  The gardens and castle disappear.  Parsifal and Kundry are alone in a desert.  She sinks to the ground with a mournful cry, and turning from her, his last words are, “Thou knowest where only thou canst see me again.”