Conducting Bernstein's Candide with Staatsoper
13 July, 2011
I have been living in Berlin for the past two and a half months since I have had a very busy schedule with rehearsals and performances with the Staatsoper at the Schiller Theater for Bernstein’s Candide.
For the past few months I have been working closely with the Staatsoper and the Director Vincent Boussard discussing various aspects about Bernstein’s Candide. Rehearsals commenced in Berlin during the first week of May which meant that I had to go in and out of the country to meet other concert commitments in the UK. The rehearsal schedule was intense. There were days whereby we would go on until 11pm. But there was a great professional work ethic within the company and the cast was very focused so it made these long hours somewhat easier to deal with.
Working with the Orchestra was an absolute joy and we managed to get into some of the more groovy bits of the Opera. I had the sitzprobe very early on in the rehearsal schedule which was interesting. My fear was that the orchestra would ‘forget’ what we had rehearsed. But I was wrong – this is an orchestra that is used to working with great conductors and when we came to the performances the orchestra delivered at its best.
The cast chosen was a lot of fun to work with. Anja Silja is a legend in her own right so it was fantastic getting to know her. Leonardo Capalbo played a fantastic Candide. Graham Valentine played a very original Pangloss. The same goes for the rest of the cast and I would also like to take this opportunity to say that the chorus did a wonderful job. Vincent Boussard, the director was extremely particular with every movement and gesture. This was significant as the shows on each night went ahead without a hitch. I was also particularly intrigued that the costumes were designed by Christian Lacroix. It was amazing to see all the different costumes and vibrant colours that Maria Bengtsson who played Cunegonde wore and how the green suit worn by Pangloss reflected his character. The Chorus members had black costumes which rustled when they moved around stage. Each and every aspect of the material was given much thought as to the effect it would create on stage and how it would convey to the audience.
With regards to living in Berlin – what a wonderful experience. My wife and I found a wonderful apartment in Charlottenburg. It was a very large apartment which was all nicely done with wooden floors and a big balcony overlooking the tree-lined street. It had an open plan kitchen and also floor to ceiling windows which meant that there was plenty of natural light. We lived in Charlottenburg not too far from the Schiller Theater which meant I could walk to the Theatre for rehearsals and performances. We also had the time to discover Savigny Platz. What wonderful restaurants there are and what a cool and hip area this is. One of my favourite restaurants though is just a stone’s throw away from the Theatre It is an Italian restaurant called Per Voi and in between rehearsals and after every performance we would go there to eat something cooked by the larger than life Sicilian owner. The waiter, Nino was great fun and he used to call me “John Wayne”.
I am very much looking forward to going back for the revival of Candide in Berlin which will be held during November 2011. “http://www.staatsoper-berlin.org/de_DE/calendar/9268499”
