Swimmin' Pools...Movie Stars!

The Bieito Parsifal lives on in the form of a documentary created by Vadim Jendreyko. Vadim is currently making waves and winning awards for his movie: The Woman with the 5 Elephants. If you are in Los Angeles near USC on the 25th of October, go check out this important film. Free.

Meanwhile, back in Germany we were treated to the premiere of his latest documentary: "Die Singende Stadt." The Singing City. Edited by Academy Award nominee, Daniel Gibel. It took place in the production's home, Staatsoper Stuttgart. I had never sat in the hall before so I was a bit unprepared for the overwhelming prelude the orchestra played of Parsifal, conducted by Maestro Honeck. The lights went down and they began. Immediately, it all came flooding back. I remembered so vividly the final dress rehearsal, with a full house, those opening chords, standing in the wings. Upon watching and listening, I began to cry that day. I learned then and there to stay clear of the stage during the prelude, to turn off my monitor in my dressing room to keep the tears at bay. I had work to do.

But there was no work to be done on Sunday. I sat there and let the music overwhelm me. (It had the opposite effect on my 3 kids. 30 secs into the live orchestra music and they were all snoring in their seats. We'd all gotten up early to commute from Strasbourg, so I'll give them a free pass for that.)
Die Singende Stadt tells the story of how an opera production is mounted, from the ground up. I've seen behind the scene attempts before but never one like this. What struck me most was the lack of voice over. No shortcut way to describe what was going on, only the subjects themselves doing what they do. Planning costumes, building sets, sweeping halls, mounting stages, building props and preparing music. Some might use this blog to get an insiders view into opera, but I'm here to tell you if you want a GREAT view, see this movie when it comes out commercially. I don't have info on that yet, but it is to be handed over to international film festivals this year, released commercially then finally in DVD. Dates tbd.

The kids definitely woke up for the movie.

Martin Sigmund, photo

Aside from a minor jealousy pang, I couldn't be happier to see Gregg Baker featured so prominently. One of the throughlines of the movie is his fight with the language. It made for really funny storytelling to hear his work with the language coach. And he LOOKS like a freaking statue. One of the early shots of the movie is him walking in front of a scrim followed by 4 others, all about 2 feet shorter than him. A huge laugh from the audience.

And laughs there were. It will be interesting to see it again with an audience that is not peppered with the employees of the opera company. There were moments of roaring laughter, and other moments of discomfort seeing ourselves on the bigscreen displayed so openly.

Martin Sigmund, photo

Who knew Mo. Honeck was the perfect straight man? I sure didn't. In a couple memorable moments on film he is waxing rhapsodic on a certain phrasing during the big Kundry scene in Act 2. He goes on and on about it. To which Christiane Iven says: "Yes, but Maestro ... I must breath." PERFECT deadpan from him. "Oh. Ok. If you must."

Or during the first coaching of mine and Stephen Milling, he's helping me with the first lines, giving deep psychological cues into the character of Parsifal on my lines "Ich wusste sie nicht." Wonderfully descriptive language on WHY this moment is so serene and somber. The purity and nobility of Parsifal. Stephen and mine response after having been staging the scene with Calixto? "Ooooh boy. Erm, uh, Calixto has this idea of Parsifal being a hooligan. A savage. An ANIMAL!"

Again, perfect deadpad from Honeck: "Ok, make him a cat."

And yeah, my Mom will be pleased (mostly). The ending of the opera is there, and the shot of the stand-in for Titurels family bits dangling made for an uncomfy moment with my 11 yr old sitting nearby. (Later she said: "Dad, I'm scared for LIFE after seeing that mans junk hanging so low." The Richards family had a great time afterward singing "Do your balls hang low... Can you tie 'em in a knot, can you tie 'em in a bow?" in the parking lot at the top of our lungs.) But beyond that there was no nudity to be seen of Parsifal. But believe you me, that was enough! A lot of shirts off moments. My pecs paling to Mr. Linebackers. Gregg is 50-something and could squash me like a bug.

Not that he's the only one. The most memorable moment in film was Stephen's hand on the head of the little boy/angel. Here's some of my favorite photos from the production (which don't quite capture what the film did on a 30 ft screen, but you get the idea of just how huge he is):

All photos, Martin Sigmund

All this to say, great movie! Even greater to be reminded how much impact we can have with dedication and hard work. I look forward to returning this season for more performances.