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Post by crabtree on Aug 29, 2017 8:59:22 GMT
Hallo, and has anyone actually seen an opera on the lake at Bregenz, or even worked there. I have just watched the Magic Flute from 2013 and it truly was one of the most bizarre experiences, designed to abstraction, and so technically complex, and with the singers being so far away, most of them were wearing puppet heads or were upstaged by huge puppets, and the Queen of the Night had a defying gravity moment that puts Wicked to shame. Certainly, the designers made for a memorable evening, but was it any more than a technical and artistic spectacle - I'm not sure. But I guess that is what that location requires. Any thoughts? Thanks
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Post by mallardo on Aug 29, 2017 11:33:54 GMT
My experience of Bregenz was in the Bond film, Quantum of Solace, where a complex action sequence was staged amidst a grotesque production of Tosca. It all looked so silly that I have not been tempted to check the place out.
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Bregenz
Aug 30, 2017 12:47:00 GMT
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Post by argon on Aug 30, 2017 12:47:00 GMT
I have been and actually saw The Magic Flute @ Bregenz. It proved to be better than I anticipated. The singers were strong across the board, probably helped by using mics to even out those that may be under powered. The acoustics were high quality ( why can't musical
theatre productions in London invest in high fidelity ?)
This production attracted a fair number of well behaved children with their parents.
One thing a do distinctly remember,
despite the day time temperature being in the high 20's, once the sun goes down, Lake Constance picks up a bitterly cold breeze. Which explained why so many of the audience were in position of bags containing blankets, fleeces and wind breaker coats.
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Post by countryjames on Aug 30, 2017 12:57:03 GMT
I'm just back from Bregenz where one of my artists (I'm a manager for opera singers) was appearing in Carmen. Inevitably on a huge stage with an audience of 7000 subtlety isn't the name of the game and musical compromises are made in the way of cuts to get the show down within two hours as with that number of audience getting them in and out for an interval drink / comfort break is practicable. The night I went was at least dry (several shows were rained off this year) but it does indeed get cold by the lake as the evening goes on. However, taken on its own merits it's a great experience and I was surprised both at how good the sound (with directional microphones) and musical discipline (despite orchestra and conductor being in a separate hall) were. And Bregenz itself is a delightful town with easy access across the Boden See to Lindau and a wonderful cable car ride up in to the mountains.
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Post by crabtree on Aug 30, 2017 15:20:37 GMT
thanks for all this...it does sound an amazing experience and location. I'd love to know the practical mechanics 'backstage'. They clearly have a circular track under water for things to go round. Opera at the best of times, with the lights switched on, as it were, is pretty absurd - joyous but absurd,but bregenz seems to go even further into totally surreal territory. Do they run in rep....surely they can't change that enormous set every day?
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Post by countryjames on Aug 31, 2017 8:44:51 GMT
No, it's one opera given around 30 performances on a two year cycle with rotating casts. So, next year is Carmen again.
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