As noted in the comments section of the previous post, changes are a-coming.In an unprecedented phone call today I was notified I being called to stage on the day of the Final Dress Rehearsal at noon to "discuss changes to the staging." Your guess is as good as mine in what will change. Flight added back into Act 3? Self-bondage in Act 2? More circles in Act 1? Who can say…I do know this, that making significant changes this late in the process is unheard of. I was completely amazed that the figurants made a completely new entrance onstage in the previous rehearsal.
To get 250 people to do that was a miracle of willingness.
Ha! And they say opera is boring! I love this job…
9 comments:
Hi, Andrew,
I've just read on Wikki what's going to be awaiting us tomorrow : the hood is back, the carrying of people too. These are just two examples. What are your own changes?
Indeed : opera is far from being boring.
But we had been expecting this thanks to your yesterday warning. :o)
Definitely eager to be tomorrow, even as a figurant. :-)
Nathalie
Hi Andrew ... we had our queues for the 3rd act this afternoon ... only big changement is the use of the black-head-hood! For the rest quite the same !
But who knows ... this is perhaps not the ultimate one!
Servaas
... is this an opera or a rollercoaster ?
Servaas
As a director of opera I can say that I am very amused by your blog, not only because it seems to be very honest and surprisingly open and vulnerable, but also because it brings up a lot of the issues that ensue when putting on a production of opera that are never spoken about. Speaking about them as kindly and as openly as you do is really very beautiful and honestly, very courageous of you. I am sure that you know as well as I do that whatever changes Romeo is making are a result of profound, caring , and perhaps painful deliberation, and guided by a desire to make the show as good as possible. Your respect for his work has been made clear throughout the blog, and your attempts to try to fulfill his needs are I hope as complete as you describe. I can assure you that many other directors would have slashed and burned carelessly just to satisfy the conductor, the opera house, the press department and the administration, the tech crew and the singers rather than having the courage to relentlessly trudge on fighting for what is right for the show itself, regardless of whether it is more difficult or will make people upset to do so. Having seen Castellucci's work live, I can assure you that your choice to put ego aside and make it work is the right one. It will pay both you and the audience huge dividends. He's the real deal in a world full of fakers. And you are lucky to be at the center of it. Stay brave and true. I'll be there for the final performance...can't wait!
Dear Anon Opera Director,
Your comment is very much appreciated. Thanks for the encouraging words. It means quite a lot.
Andrew
I'm also a stage director and completely love this dialogue.... thank you so much for sharing - so fairly and thoughtfully this process - also to the figurants and other commenters..... I'm wishing everyone a very special opening of what is clearly going to be a very beautiful Parsifal. I only wish I could come see it!
As we won't see the first and second act tonight, I do hope you'll tell us the changes they made this afternoon??!!
Our changes already have been communicated, but I think you're not involved in them (the black heads and the lifting of extra's) so there must be some other changes as well!
All very exciting! See you tonight guys!
It seems the chorus is always last to know about these changes! We're kicking off in less than 2 hours and if it wasn't for your (hilarious) post, I wouldn't even know to expect changes. Anyway, I'm sure they won't be drastic... but I'll still try to get there early to get some info. See y'all on stage! =))
Toï Toï Toï!!!
Paul
Message for Paul
We are regularly informed of the changes by the wikki and the blog dedicated to "us". If you need to be informed, tell me. I'd be glad to forward you the info.
We've been told tonight that there might be some tiny little changes before the "première" so that, for instance, our way of leaving the stage at the end can be improved. If it can help you and your colleagues, tell me.
Nathalie
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