Bayreuth restricts general rehearsals
OperaLocal media report that the festival has banned the public from attending general rehearsals this summer.
The new Parsifal, a closely-guarded project involving virtual reality, is understandably being kept under wraps.
But access is also being barred from general rehearsals of revivals of the Ring, Flying Dutchman, Tristan and Isolde and Tannhäuser.
This festival is managed by particularly incompetent people. It’s high time the federal government and Bavarian government take over.
We know from his letters, that Wagner himself did neither see his wife Cosima nor his offspring as suitable to continue to lead Bayreuth in his spirit after his death.
What takes the state donors so long to sideline the family?
Cosima‘s will shall not matter at all, for obvious reasons. Yet here we are, 140 years later…
Yes, that’s the solution. More government intervention.
Only Siegfried and Rheingold are open, it’s not good management.
It is obvious they don’t want early word out on the atrocious quality of the singers.
What are the normal rules/deal about attending general rehearsals? Surely you cannot just turn up…?
What happened to the previous Bayreuth bashing post? (the one accusing Wieland&Wolfgang of „running“ a concentration camp on the premises) Did their lawyers send a letter?
Particularly when the point had been made that the decision not to release letters between Winifred and Hitler, correspondence which Winifred’s granddaughter Amelie Hohmann whose father and husband were dyed in the wool Nazis, termed “explosive”. Yet it is Amelie who is allegedly determined to stop publication.
Machinations of the impetuous incompetents worthy of an afternoon soap opera?
Or a master‘s secret plan from within the sacrosanct halls devised by the all-seeing all-knowing great-granddaughter of Fafner?
Of course, no one knows what’s really going on – and this “article” doesn’t help – so we regale in wild speculation!!
Buy a ticket if you want to see it. Generals are not rehearsals, performers not paid, so support the art and artists by buying tickets.
This should be the norm, in my opinion. The general rehearsal is still a rehearsal, and public attendance should not be allowed…But some companies even sell tickets for the general rehearsal, of course without paying extra fees to the singers and people on the stage (it’s not considered a performance)…so well done Bayreuth!
Come on!!! This is all about building suspense and generating advance audience interest! Like continuously showing a trailer for an upcoming movie weeks in advance of it’s opening! Nothing sells tickets like some juicy publicity!
Given how many important cast changes are in place this season, it’s kinder to the performers taking on new roles to have a little extra unscrutinized rehearsal time.
This is normal. Finally dress rehearsal is what it is called in the US, btw. And why do we even need to know that? Smear a little here and there…?
I am not totally convinced either way, unfortunately. Public previews are very common in commercial theatre and musicals. These give the creative team insights into how audiences view their work and time to fine tune or adapt parts which do not have the expected reaction. Since actors tend to be on salaries, I suspect they are still paid for previews, even at a reduced rate.
How many times have we been at opera first nights when things related to the production do not quite work and which are then changed later in a run? Or at revivals where more major changes have been put into effect? I suppose I am basically pro audiences attending one or more dress rehearsals – although they should pay as at theatrical previews a reduced price, and the issue of payment for performers should be mandatory. Perhaps 50% of their fees although others will no doubt quibble about the percentage. Were this to happen, there would clearly need to be embargos on the professional critics until the official first night.
Getting new productions of operas up and running is fraught with time constraints, especially when it comes to rehearsals on the stage itself. Perhaps it’s time to look at ways in which the rush can be eased and producers especially (although also some conductors) given a little more time. Financially, though, I expect it’s a non-starter.
The reason they’re banning for Parsifal is obviously suspense. Having seen last year’s absolutely horrid regietheatre Ring (the music was great) at the festival, I am convinced they don’t want booing at the rehearsals.
I was very disappointed when I sat through a Bayreuth Ring warts and all, never again, pure pastiche. I would rather watch the Father Ted episode about the holy stone of Clonrichert.
If you want to see real Wagner go elsewhere. Why can they not just do proper HIP Wagner as per his stage directions, without plastic Macs, rat costumes, bouncy castles etc. Besides singers eg Martha Modl, Astrid Varnay et al no longer exist.
Why have they put a clown in Tannhauser? Wagner did not write in a role for one. It would seem all Bayreuth productions do the very opposite of what Wagner’s stage directions indicate. To go against them is not serving the composer’s best interests. A production should enhance the music drama, not confuse the audience with oddities. Bayreuth should aim for bench mark performances, not novelty staging which pleases no one.
Presently I am lobbying for a Tannhauser at GOH Belfast, (Dresden), a first, a HIP version, with historical costumes and sets, not Eurotrash. It will have real wire strung Irish harps in the song contest, Tannhauser and the pilgrims will look mightily humble in sackcloth in Act 3.