Vienna’s playboy needs a shave
NewsThe Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, banned from Covent Garden and the Met after allegations of sexual aggression, has turned up rough-cheeked for rehearsals at Vienna’s all-jump-in Boheme.
He says: ‘I’m delighted to announce my return to the @wienerstaatsoper for the theatres season opening in the role of #Rodolfo in the stunning Franco Zeffirelli’s production of #LaBoheme. I’ll be on the stage with an extraordinary cast: @anna_netrebko_yusi_tiago, @guntherfriedrichgroissbock, @the_jedi_baritone, @minasyan_nina.
I’ll be performing on the 5th, 8th and 11th of September.’
His voice nowadays is as rough as his cheeks. Both need smoothing.
Given its history, it comes as no surprise that Austria coddles the most unsavory and shady characters. Who’s conducting, Domingo?
If I were Mr. P., I would consider an Anschluss.
Together, the two represent the best qualities our world need right now.
WO SIND DIE ZEITEN DAHIN
von Georg Kreisler
“Wo sind die Zeiten dahin
Als es noch gmüatlich war in Wien?
Als noch die herzigen Fiaker durch die Straßen glitten
Als noch die schneidigen Husaren durch die Hofburg ritten
Als noch Maria Antoinette durch Paris kutschierte
Als noch der Schubert komponierte, weil er Hunger spürte
Als noch der gute Kaiser Franz beinahe nichts erlaubte
Und das Volk in Kriege lenkte
Manche köpfte, manche henkte
Nix wie Tod gab′s weit und breit –
Wo ist die Zeit?
Manche sind zwar fortgeschritten –
Andre Länder, andre Sitten!
Wien bleibt Wien
Das ist grad das Schöne dran!
Wien bleibt Wien
Dass man sich dran gwöhnen kann!
Hier gibts kan Lenin
Ka Ho Tschi Minh
Ka Disziplin!
Nur Melodien
Und Harmonien
Die in Berlin
Längst nicht mehr ziehn!
Weil wir in Wien alle hin und wieder sagen:
“Nur nix Neuchs, bleib mer schön beim Alten!”
Ändern lasst sich goar nix
Weil der Wiener das net will –
Ändern lasst sich gar nix
Weil die Arbeit wär zu viel!
Ja woi!
Naa! Ändern lasst sich goar nix
Weil die Erde sich noch dreht!
Leb’mer nur so weiter –
Wenn mer tot sind, ist′s zu spät!
Ich sag ja schon seit dreißig Jahr:
“Wozu denn ein Experiment?
Wir lassen alles so, wie’s war
Weil man das Neue no net kennt!”
Ändern lasst sich gar nix
Weil es steht ja nicht dafür –
Ändern solln die Andern
Weil die Andern sind net wir!
Solang der Steffel noch net fallt
Solang der Prater noch net brennt
Solang die Krankenkasse zahlt
Solang mei Wirtin mich noch kennt
Solang die Oper zuviel kost
Solang die Ratten sich vermehrn
Solang a Madel mich noch losst
Solang die Fremden hier verkehrn
Solang der Wein a bisserl schmeckt
Solang ist alles mir egal
Solang hab ich vor mir Respekt –
Ich werd net international!
Komm, Alte, trink mer noch was
Nach her könn mer weiterranzen
Wo sind die Zeiten dahin
Als es noch gmütlich war in Wien?
Als noch das große alte Kaiserreich zusammenkrachte
Als noch der Dollfuß alle Roten einfach niedermachte
Als noch der gute alte Hitler bei uns einmarschierte
Als man die jüdischen Geschäfte einfach arisierte
Als man die Juden dort, wo’s hin ghörn, in die Lager steckte
Als man die Falschheit der Franzosen wieder neu entdeckte
Als sich der Landser an der russischen Riviera sonnte
Als man im letzten Kriegsjahr Widerständler werden konnte!
Wenn wir mit die Zigaretten
Nicht so viel geschoben hätten
Wärn die Russen, diese lieben
Sicherlich bei uns geblieben!
Schad um die Besatzungsleut –
Wo ist die Zeit?
Nur die Amis san die Dummen
Weil′s jetzt als Touristen kommen!
Wien bleibt Wien
Weil so viel zum Neppen gibt –
Wien bleibt Wien
Weil′s gnügend Deppen gibt!
Wien hat seinen Wein
Und seine Fraun und seinen Wald
Die Medizin, die Schlamperein
Ma muss sich traun, dann kriegt man’s zahlt!
Wir ham den Strauß, Johann
Den Kaiser Franz Joseph!
Ich brauch kein Wasser in der Wohnung –
Lieber bleib mer schön beim Alten!
Ändern lasst sich gar nix
Weil sonst hätt mer′s ja schon gmacht –
Ändern lasst sich gar nix
Also Servus, Gute Nacht!
Ändern lasst sich gar nix
Weil ich sowas net riskier –
Ändern lasst sich gar nix
Und am allerletzten wir!
Ja woi!”
To Gustavo: in English, please!
WHERE HAVE THE TIMES GONE?
by Georg Kreisler
[freely translated]
Where have the times gone? When it was still cozy in Vienna?
When the sweet little carriages still glided through the streets
When the dashing hussars rode through the Hofburg
When Maria Antoinette was still touring Paris
When Schubert was still composing because he felt hungry
When the good Emperor Franz allowed almost nothing
And led the people into wars
Some beheaded, some hanged
There was nothing but death far and wide – where is the time?
Some are advanced
Other countries, other customs!
Vienna stays Vienna
That’s the beauty of it!
Vienna stays Vienna
You can get used to it!
Here is no Lenin, no Ho Chi Minh, no discipline!
Only melodies
And harmonies
The ones which are out in Berlin!
Because in Vienna we all say from time to time:
“Nothing new, stay with the old one!”
Nothing can be changed
Because the Viennese don’t want that
Nothing can be changed
Because the work would be too much!
Yes indeed!
No! Nothing can be changed
Because the earth is still spinning!
Just keep living like this –
When we’re dead, it’s too late!
I’ve been saying for thirty years: “Why an experiment?”
We leave everything as it was
Because you don’t know what’s new!”
Nothing can be changed
Because nothing is in favour –
Let the others change
Because the others are not us!
As long as the Steffel still doesn’t fall
As long as the Prater isn’t burning
As long as the health insurance pays
As long as my landlady still recognises me
As long as the opera costs too much
As long as the rats thrive
As long as a girly still lets me
As long as strangers move on
As long as the wine tastes a bit
I don’t care
As long as I have respect for myself –
I’m not going international!
Come on, old lady, let’s have another drink
After that we can go on
Where have the times gone?When it was still cozy in Vienna?
When the great old empire collapsed
When Dollfuss was simply killing all the Reds
When good old Hitler marched into our country
When the Jewish businesses were simply aryanized
When the Jews were put in the camps where they belonged
When the falsehood of the French was rediscovered
When Landser sunned himself on the Russian Riviera
When you could become a member of the resistance in the last year of the war!
If we hadn’t pushed it with the cigarettes so much the friendly Russians would have certainly stayed with us!
A pity about the occupation – where is the time?
Only the Americans are stupid
Because now they come as tourists!
Vienna stays Vienna
Because there’s so much to rip off
Vienna stays Vienna Because there are enough idiots!
Vienna has its wine
And his women and his forest
The medicine, the sloppiness
You have to dare, then you get it paid!
We’ve got Strauss, Johann
The Emperor Franz Joseph!
I don’t need water in the apartment – Better stay the same!
Nothing can be changed Because otherwise we would have done it already –
Nothing can be changed
So hello, good night!
Nothing can be changed Because I don’t risk something like that – Nothing can be changed
And the least of all will we! Yes indeed!
Thanks!
Needs a shave, a new voice, and to tone down the scenery chewing he’s calling ‘acting’, not that any of these will register with season opening crowd, who doesn’t know La Juive from La Bohème, and both from La Rondine.
Italian tenors since Caruso have never been able to keep their hands to themselves. All they needed were great colleagues like Emmy Destinn, Frances Alda, or worse, Garden or Melba to put them in their place, which they managed with fabulous aplomb, because they themselves were larger than life.
Maybe one wouldn’t be concerned with all this low-level squabbling if today’s singers were real artists who knew how to sing.
Does anyone remember the book “Prima Donnas and other Wild Beasts”?
His website says that he is scheduled for two performances of La Traviata at Covent Garden in three weeks, so apparently all is forgiven there?
ROH isn’t doing Traviata again until July next year, and the Alfredo is Liparit Avetisyan.
That would be the Royal Opera House in Muscat, not Covent Garden, so not yet forgiven.
Nonsense. It says he is performing it in Muscat. You are as liberal with facts as the host of this website.
Royal Opera House – Muscat (OMAN), not London (UK).
That’s the ROH in Muscat, not Covent Garden. They, like Vienna, seem less concerned about the behaviour of those they book.
Makes me sad.
The unshaven look is cool and in at those European latitudes. But then you knew that, sir. You just wanted to slap him around based on inuendo. Lebrecht bleibt Lebrecht. It’s important to have consistency. 🙂
Apologies to everyone for my inadvertently misreading which Royal Opera House he’s scheduled to perform Traviata at; I stand corrected.
…. of course, unlike 120 years ago, all they have left to get some attention are sex-scandals once they realize that they have ruined their voices, or never really knew how to sing!
Sic transit….