xn--vrossignol-b7a: La Bohème, Final Rehearsal, Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg 30. Jul 2012

PROGRAM DETAIL

Giacomo Puccini • La bohème
Opera in four acts Text by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica based on the novel Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger (1822–1861)

New production
In Italian with German and English surtitles

Co-production with Shanghai Grand Theatre

Duration approx. 2,5 hours

Salzburger Festspiele, Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg
Final rehearsal, 30. Jul 2012 11:00

LEADING TEAM
Daniele Gatti, Conductor
Damiano Michieletto, Stage Director
Paolo Fantin, Set Design
Carla Teti, Costume Design
Martin Gebhardt, Lighting
Kathrin Brunner, Dramaturgy
Nikolaos Lagousakos, Choreographic Assistance
Ernst Raffelsberger, Chorus Master
Wolfgang Götz, Children's Chorus Master

CAST
Piotr Beczala, Rodolfo, a poet
Anna Netrebko, Mimì
Massimo Cavalletti, Marcello, a painter
Nino Machaidze, Musetta
Alessio Arduini, Schaunard, a musician
Carlo Colombara, Colline, a philosopher
Davide Fersini, Benoît, their landlord
Peter Kálmán, Alcindoro, a state councillor
Paul Schweinester, Parpignol
Vienna Philharmonic Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
Salzburg Festival and Theatre Children's Choir

REPORTS

La Bohème, Final rehearsal, Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg 30. Jul 2012
By Herbert

I happened to be among the lucky ones who grabbed a ticket – before they were sold out – for the final rehearsal of La Bohème in Salzburg this morning.

Because the opening night is still to come next Wednesday, I will not reveal any details, surprises, secrets, or special effects – and there are many!

But I may say for sure: This production will be a winner!!

Most “Bohèmes” in our opera houses have got some historic patina, like the one in Munich which I saw a week ago. It is about 40 years old by Otto Schenk (who sat in the audience today!) and it still “works” perfectly well, especially with Angela Gheorghiu as Mimi and Joseph Calleja as Rodolfo.

But a new production can’t or shouldn’t repeat the same old “cozy” style of Zeffirelli or Schenk etc. Therefore this new Salzburg Bohème is completely different. It is set in Paris of 2012, it is modern and romantic, witty and moving, and without a single moment of boredom. And above all, it tells the well-known story, without destroying it.

When the dark blue curtain opens, we see the whole wide stage – it is huge! – but actually we are looking through a window. Stop – I mustn’t tell too much. The setting is ingenious, as well as the stage machinery which is needed to develop one picture after the other in a logical, convincing and yet astonishing way.

For example the winter scene at the beginning of the second part after the interval – it makes you shiver although it is end of July “outside”.

Or the final picture after Mimi’s heartbreaking death (something odd happened, which could not be intention: when Mimi died, a long black curl rolled down Anna's face and lay still…) – I will never forget the magic of this moment.

It was followed by endless seconds of complete silence – before the ovations broke loose.

Stage director Damiano Michieletto and set designer Paolo Fantin have done a fantastic job. The same must be said for conductor Daniele Gatti and the Wiener Philharmoniker, because after the interval they were welcomed with so much applause that Gatti had to ask the musicians to stand up and take a bow.

At curtain calls I didn’t hear a single boo, but enthusiastic applause for everybody on stage.

I haven’t mentioned the singers yet – the best comes at the end! The whole cast was outstanding, therefore the applause and the “bravi” were rising more and more until finally Piotr Beczala and Anna Netrebko entered the stage.

There was only one curtain call – maybe because it was “only” the final rehearsal – and the production team did not appear on stage. But I hope they will “rock the house” on Wednesday night.

What a sensational production – clever, intelligent, convincing, colourful, funny, melancholic – a huge success!

I even dare say: To me this might become THE Bohème of our days!!

Let me attach some photos. They do not reveal too much of the scenery. Good! ;-))

Oh BTW, Anna left the building well "disguised", and so she could disapper in the crowd and walked away almost unnoticed.

PHOTOS