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Category: OPERA /THEATER/FILM/LITERATURE

Munich; Bayerische Staatsoper, Alban Berg : ‘LULU’ with Marlis Petersen

Premiere; Monday, May 25, 6 pm 

Lulu:Marlis Petersen

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Composer: Alban Berg · Libretto after the tragedies “Erdgeist” and “Die Büchse der Pandora” by Frank Wedekind
In German with German surtitles | New Production-Duration est. 3 hours 55 minutes
Musikalische Leitung: Kirill Petrenko; Inszenierung und Bühne:Dmitri Tcherniakov;Kostüme:Elena Zaytseva; Licht:Gleb Filshtinsky; Produktions-dramaturgie:Malte Krasting; Choreographische Assistenz:Tatiana Baganova.

 

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synopsis: Anyone who sees her is already lost and anyone who wants to kiss her will, sooner or later, get bitten. In droves, men are dashed to pieces on the apparently so cuddly Lulu as if she were the rock of the Loreley. Corpses pave her way, she is a femme fragile and a femme fatale all at the same time, the “prototype of a woman”, the most lethal female figure in the history of opera. But it is only the glance of men that makes her into the personae in which we meet her: She creates the image of a woman he craves and on this constraining perspective the object of his lusts must again be destroyed. Alban Berg has described Lulu’s path in subtle symmetry, with a score that bears within it the entire wealth of the history of music’s form and colour.

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a great production with excellent stage setting and amazing performance by Marlis Petersen. A performance charged with intensity and great voices.

Kirill Petrenko was born in Omsk in 1972 and studied piano there at the Music Academy. At the age of eleven, he made his first public appearance as a pianist with the city’s symphony orchestra……Kirill Petrenko took up his appointment as General Music Director of the Bayerische Staatsoper on 1 September 2013, and during the 2013/14 season he conducted the premieres of Die Frau ohne Schatten, La clemenza di Tito and Die Soldaten. His second season will include the new productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and Lulu and, among others, the revival of Der Ring des Nibelungen. In 2015/16, Petrenko will be the musical director for the first performance of Miroslav Srnka’s South Pole and will conduct the premiere of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In addition, the General Music Director will be directing the Bayerisches Staatsorchester in revivals of Ariadne auf Naxos, Die Walküre, Götterdämmerung, Die Fledermaus, Tosca and Der Rosenkavalier plus three Academy Concerts.
more here Lulu

and a radical publication of the “Lulu” with first pages old negatives of Pierre Molinier  by  the surprising and  amazing always art director Mirko Borsche (Mirko Borsche Bureau)

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Munich; part of Kino der kunst ;an afternoon with Jasper Just at the Brandhorst Museum ; moderator Dr Bernhard Schwenk

Two years ago, in Munich was launched the reputable International festival KINO DER KUNST with great enthusiasm and as the Artistic Director Dr Heinz Peter Schwerfel says “thanks to the support of an initiative by Ingvild Goetz”.

The Kino der Kunst has set itself the goal of focusing on a small but signigicant niche: narrative film by visual artists. As Dr Scwerfel says, “we believe that contemporary fiction in particular gets to the heart of our present….a rigorous selection of films as well to the museum presentations that show how narrative artists’ films are lading the way…”

A series of artists talk are taking place since Thursday at the foyer of the Museum Brandhorst at 6.30 pm

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I had the opportunity last night to attend the talk with Jasper Just,  with Dr Bernhard Schwenk, chief curator at Pinakothek der Moderne, enjoy  a quick view on clips  of his recent work including his  upcoming new project at Palais de Tokyo, Paris  in June.. Superb artist!

Jasper Just, born in Copenhagen, lives in New York.Since 2000 has presented more than 25 films and installations. his most known “ It Will All End in Tears’ ,2006, This Nameless Spectacle, 2011, in 2013 he represented Denmark with “Intercourses’ at the 55th Biennale di Venezia.

 

Munich; Bayerische Staatsoper: “Das Rheingold”, Richard Wagner

A spectacular opera performance last night at the Opera House in Munich, “Das Reingold”. Conceived by Wagner as a prologue to his monumental Ring cycle, ” Das Rheingold”  sets forth the dramatic issues that play out in the three subsequent operas. Gold from the depths of the Rhine River is stolen by the dwarf Alberich, who uses it to forge a ring that will give him unlimited power. The theft sets in motion a course of events that will eventually alter the order of the universe.

 

 

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more here 

Musikalische: LeitungKirill Petrenko; Inszenierung:Andreas Kriegenburg ;Bühne:Harald B. Thor ;Kostüme:Andrea Schraad Licht:Stefan Bolliger; Choreographie:Zenta Haerter; Dramaturgie:Marion Tiedtke und Miron Hakenbeck
Wotan: Thomas J. Mayer;  Donner:Levente Molnár; Froh:Dean Power ;Loge:Burkhard Ulrich; Alberich:Tomasz Konieczny Mime:Andreas Conrad ;Fasolt:Günther Groissböck Fafner:Christof Fischesser; Fricka: Elisabeth Kulman;Freia:AgaMikolaj; Erda:Okka von der Damerau; Woglinde:Hanna-Elisabeth Müller ;Wellgunde:Jennifer Johnston; Floßhilde:Nadine Weissmann

details on biographies and more photos here 

Munich: presentation of Stefan Hunstein’ s new book “IM EIS” at the Kammerspiele Theater, ed. by Dr Petra Giloy-Hirtz

A beautiful sunday 12 o’clock event at the Münchner Kammerspiele Theater for the new book of photographs by Stefan Hunstein,”IM EIS”  also a very famous german actor, published by Hirmer Verlag GmbH;  a discussion followed with the photographer and Dr Petra Giloy-Hirtz and Dr Ulrich Pohlmann.

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The photographs were exhibited (May 9-June 15, 2014) at the Münchner Stadmuseum

Stefan Hunstein, is one of those photographers that have braved the polar seas and he  traveled to Greenland in 2012 and returned with an enthralling portfolio of breathtakingly beautiful images of the ends of the world…”

” The magic of the polar regions has fascinated and attracted explorers for centuries. This desolate world, characterized by gigantic icebergs, drift ice, and Arctic temperatures, conforms to everyone’s conception of a pristine, archaic landscape, which, however, is accessible only for a short time and at the cost of enormous physical effort with the aid of sophisticated technology. Those who visit this bizarre landscape of ice and snow are overwhelmed by the sensation of being just a tiny, insignificant entity in the midst of a grandiose natural spectacle.
In the last few years a number of artists, such as Olafur Eliasson and Darren Almond, have discovered these Arctic regions and responded creatively to their natural wonders in different ways.” (museum press release) 

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(published photos@Münchner Staadtmuseum/exhibit)

The gathering took place at  the Kammerspiele Theater with the impressive and  in sync staging of  the now  play März” of Heinar Kipphardt;  Stefan Hunstein read a beautiful text from   Christoph Ransmayr, Abschlag am Nordpol (from his book: “Atlas eines ängstlichen Mannes

photos@VK

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Stefan Hunstein is represented by Andreas Binder gallery 

Athens: a vibrant Theater scene: “Mephisto”, “Ασκηση για Φονο”, ‘Η μητερα του Σκυλου”, “Πεντε”

My 5 day visit to Athens, with  Four amazing evenings at the Athenian vibrant theatrical  scene, thanks to lovely invitations by my dear friend Ariana Nichogianopoulou and Akis Charalambidis.

a fantastic performance of “ H Μανα του Σκυλου” written by Pavlos Matesis, directed  by Stravros Tsakiris at  Συγχρονο Θεατρο

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then..at  Θεατρο Αγγελων Βημα   “Ασκηση για Φονο” of Victor Chan,  directed by Dimitris   Giamloglou from the theatrical group Square Theatre Company

players: Giannis Laspias, Daphne Manousou, Ioanna Stavropoulou

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Ο Έντριαν, γοητευτικός τυχοδιώκτης και πρωταθλητής στο σκάκι,απολαμβάνει τον,πλούσιο γάμο του με την μεγαλύτερή του,αλλά ακόμη σέξυ, Τζάνις,πρώην μοντέλο και νυν ιδιοκτήτρια γιγαντιαίας αλυσίδας γυμναστηρίων. Όσο ο ένας δεν χώνεταιστα πόδια του άλλου,όλα στη σχέση τους μοιάζουν ρόδινα. Σχεδόν…
Μέ την εμφάνιση της Έιμυ, νεαρής «ρεπόρτερ» μέ σκοτεινό παρελθόν και ακόμη πιο σκοτεινό παρόν,μπαίνει σε κίνηση ένα γαϊτανάκι αποκαλύψεων, σχεδίων δολοφονίας και ανατροπών και ξεκινάει μια αδυσώπητη και αφάνταστα αστεία παρτίδα φονικού σκακιού..”

 

see more here  http://www.theatrikaprogrammata.gr/άσκηση-για-φόνο-λαμπερή-πρεμιέρα-στο/

and here   http://www.paraskhnio.gr/askisi-gia-fono-toy-victor-cahn-sto-aggelon-vi/

 

 

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…. a fabulous performance at the National Theater at Ziller building, Main Stage, of “Mephisto” adapted from the novel by Klaus Mann by Ariane Mnouchkine, directed by Nikos Mastorakis, music: Stavros Gasparatos

Cast:
Erika Bruckner Marina Aslanoglou
Carola Martin Vicky Volioti
Myriam Gottschalk Maria Zorba
Singer, Emelyne Danae Katsameni
Publisher, Jostinkel Thymios Koukios
Otto Ulrich Dimitris Mavros
Madame Efeu Ivonni Maltezou
Julius Stephanos Mwange
Theophile Sarder Alkis Panagiotidis
Ludwig Ektoras Liatsos
Lorenz Tasos Pirgieris
Theresa von Herzfeld Youlika Skafida
Knurr Yiannis Stollas
Pamela von Niebuhr Konstantina Takalou
Hans Miklas Harris Tzortzakis
Hendrik Hofgen Thanos Tokakis
Alex Enke Fezollari
Klaus Brickner Haris Frangoulis
Thomas Bruckner Minas Hatzisavvas
Magnus Gottschalk Nikos Psarras

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Το μυθιστόρημα του Κλάους Μαν, που γράφτηκε στο Άμστερνταμ το 1936, είναι εμπνευσμένο από τον μύθο του Φάουστ. Ο επιφανειακός φιλελευθερισμός του κεντρικού ήρωα γρήγορα δίνει τη θέση του στην ανάγκη για κολακεία και εξουσία, αφού, για να εδραιωθεί στο χώρο του, συμμαχεί με τον «διάβολο» έναντι οποιουδήποτε ανταλλάγματος. Το έργο αποτελεί μελέτη πάνω στις σχέσεις τέχνης και πολιτικής, εξουσίας και ηθικής, εμβαθύνοντας όχι μόνο στην άνοδο του φασισμού, αλλά στις κοινωνιολογικές και πνευματικές προϋποθέσεις που έκαναν δυνατή μια τέτοια άνοδο.

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Klaus Mann (son of Thomas) wrote the novel in 1936 as a roman à clef about the decisions the theater artists of his time were making during the rise of fascism. Hofgen represents Gustaf Gründgens, the actor/director who was married to Mann’s sister, Erika. The events onstage closely resemble those in the lives of the real players. In real life, Gründgens was reportedly homosexual, as were Klaus and Erika Mann. The black girlfriend signals this unacceptable sexual partner. In the play, as in real life, Gründgens’s marriage to Erika dissolves as she goes on to found an anti-fascist cabaret and Gründgens becomes part of the Nazi state. The novel was banned in Germany until Ariane Mnouchkine’s stage version appeared in Berlin in 1979

 

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more here http://www.n-t.gr/el/events/mef

 

and “Πέντε” (το ψυχογραφικό θρίλερ του Κώστα Μπίγαλη, που λέγαμε), στο Χυτήριο.

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Πέντε άνθρωποι με ονόματα κοινότοπα (εντάξει, το “Θαλής” δεν είναι και τόσο κοινότοπο) συναντιούνται (το ‘χει φροντίσει ο κύριος Κονταράτος, ο ιδιοκτήτης μιας κλινικής για ασθενείς με ψυχικές διαταραχές) στην κλινική του κ. Κονταράτου, αλλά ο κ. Κονταράτος λείπει. Ο γιατρός, μέσω ενός σημειώματος, τους ενημερώνει πως, όποιος καταφέρει (κατά τη διάρκεια της παραμονής του στην κλινική) να διώξει τους υπόλοιπους τέσσερις και ο ίδιος να μείνει εντός του σπιτιού, θα κερδίσει το ποσό των 500.000 ευρώ. Κανένας από τους πέντε δεν είναι τόσο υπεράνω, ώστε να πει “δε μας παρατάς, ρε φίλε” και να φύγει. Αμέσως, ο γιατρός, η νηπιαγωγός, η επιχειρηματίας, η γυμνάστρια και ο νεκροθάφτης, με τον πανικό να τους έχει πάρει τα μυαλά, αρχίζουν να σκέφτονται πώς θα τσεπώσουν τη χαρτούρα 

more here http://www.onlytheater.gr/magic_bus/_arthra_/9722-stin-premiera-tou-pente-sto-xitirio.html

photos@ published , theater productions

 

 

 

 

 

Munich; tonight at the Premiere at BAYERISCHE STAATSOPER , “The Makropulos Affair”

Premiere  tonight.. Opera in three acts – 2 hours, no intermission

A quiet challenging and contemporary opera tonight at Premier,  invited by  my lovely friend Alexandra Eley and Mathias..

Text by Leoš Janáček after a play by Karel Čapek
In Czech with German surtitles | New Production

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photo @VK

Emilia Marty :Nadja Michael

Albert Gregor :Pavel Černoch

Vítek: Kevin Conners

Krista: Tara Erraught

Musikalische Leitung: Tomáš Hanus   Inszenierung: Árpád Schilling   Bühne und Kostüme: Márton Ágh   Licht: Tamás Bányai   Produktions dramaturgie: Miron Hakenbeck ChorSören Eckhoff

 

(synopsis)   The inheritance litigation of Gregor against Prus that has dragged on for generations comes to an unexpected turn when the singer Emilia Marty turns up who can be of service with astonishingly detailed information about the past. The men caught up in the dispute lose their heads over this fascinating woman. However, love seems to mean nothing to her and sex is a ware; Marty goes to bed with the one in possession of the old document she is looking for: the Makropulos affair. For his final opera, the aged Leoš Janáček falls back on a contemporary drama with a phantasy plot, the story of 337 year old Elina Makropulos. As a young woman a life-prolonging elixir was tested on her. Since then she constantly changes countries, lovers and identities. As the effect of the elixir wears off she, tired of life but nonetheless fearful o

 

f death, searches for the recipe that could once again defer her ageing. Karel Čapek’s ingenious comedy speculates on the meaning of mortality. Janáček turns it into a tragedy stretching across 300 years of loneliness.

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fabulous Nadja Michael

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published photos @staatsoper.de

 

Munich: opening exhibition of Stan Douglas at Haus der kunst and “Helen Laurence” at Münchner Kammerspiele

On the occasion of the exhibition opening at Haus der kunst of Stan Douglas, at 5 pm  a talk took place between Stan Douglas, Johan Simons, intendant of Münchner Kammerspiele, Okwui Enwezor, and León Krempel

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Haus der Kunst presents the photographs that Stan Douglas has produced since 2008, as well as his newest works, revealing him at an exceptional moment in his artistic career in the exhibition “Stan Douglas: Mise en Scène”: In these works, Douglas has closely interwoven music, film, theater, photography, and digital formats, allowing them simultaneously to be associated with various forms of media.

A focal piece in the exhibition is the video-music installation “Luanda – Kinshasa” (2013), a fictional narrative about the absent Miles Davis. Douglas also broke new ground with his theatrical production of “Helen Lawrence” (2014), in which the actors’ performances are filmed in real time and immediately uploaded into a computer-generated environment. “Helen Lawrence” will run as a guest performance at the theater Münchner Kammerspiele simultaneous to the exhibition.

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photos@Eva Poetters

I had the privilege to attend the amazing cinematic production of Stan Douglas “Helen Laurence” and discussion at the Münchner Kammerspiele last night and followed by a lovely dinner.

more on the exhibition http://www.hausderkunst.de/en/agenda/detail/stan-douglas-opening-and-talk/

 

Munich: Opera House; Bayerisches Staatsballett “Helden”

a beautiful evening at the Munich opera house with my young daughter to a new production “Helden”(Heroes)

Choreography by Terence Kohler

The music for the ‘symphonic ballet with a storyline’ is composed of pieces by Alfred Schnittke and Russian-American composer Lera Auerbach who worked closely with Kohler, contributing original scores for his work. Stage-, object- and costume design is by rosalie.

Helden/Heroes is a comprehensive theme: Kohler choses to focus in on the conflict between Epimetheus and Prometheus. According to mythology, the former assigned animals their character traits while the ladder brought fire down to earth – hence introducing culture to human kind which opens up doors to claim power. This might either be used to bring reason and useful items to humanity, or to surrender to the satisfying feeling of omnipotence which might ultimately become self-destructive. Terence Kohler extends this challenge to find reason into the here and now in search of hope for a better future ahead.”

 

Munich; Pinakothek Der Moderne; at the Ernst von Siemens auditorium the film “Old Joy” by Kelly Reichardt

Today, this morning at Pinakothek Der Moderne, part of a series of films screened  as of Jeff Wall exhibition. at the Ernst von Siemens Auditorium  I saw ” Old Joy”, 2005  written and directed by Kelly Reichardt; with Will Oldham, Daniel London; the film features a fantastic soundtrack by Yo La Tengo.

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The most amazing is that films that somehow have gotten out of my attention living in New York, thanks to amazing things  at the Munich museums I can catch up on my film literature..

The story of two old friends, who reunite for a weekend camping trip in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. OLD JOY is the critically-acclaimed film The New York Times calls, “A MUST SEE!”  

As subtle, supple and beautifully fine-tuned a film as any American director has made in the past year. Dennis Lim, The Village Voice 

 interview of protagonist Daniel London and writer/director Kelly Reichardt

sample of Yo La Tengo soundrack 

Munich: München Akademie; presentation of Graduates’ work; highlight Anne Kodura’s film ‘ödland/wasteland’

The Munich Academy opened its doors this to present the “Diplome” graduate students’  work; from the class of Prof. Klaus vom Bruch, I was taken by an amazing work, the documentary  ‘ödland/wateland’ by Anne Kodura,  photography by Friede Clausz   The film is about 80 min. was presented in a small custom made film room in her studio at the Academy. Saturday, February 11:30 will be screened at ARRI KINO München (Türkenstrasse 91)
It is an excellent job by a young and much promising new filmmaker.  Reflections in my mind  of
Truffaut’s film “400 Blows” and the british neo realism films, such as “Life at the Top” with Laurence Harvey.  But here Anne Kodura is working with a difficult subject; children.  Anne  told me she was for some months close to the children to get to know them before the camera came in. The photography by Friede Clausz is par excellence.

By kind permission by the  artist Anne Kodura.  All photo credit@Friede Clausz

Aya

synopsis :” It is the summer holidays.

Deep in the woods and among some sheep pastures a bloc of flats stands on a former military base of the Soviet army. Surrounded by ruinous barracks, an overgrown soccer field and a brand new wire mesh fence.  This is where Aya, Momo and Mustafa grow up. They spend the holidays at home at the asylum seeker’s camp. Born and raised in Germany, they do not really understand this “asylum seeking thing”, but rather want to be quite normal. They chase away the boredom by playing football, make a trip to the nearby lake and dabble in copper scrap trading.

A story of childhood, home and the search for identity.”

Muhammad

Wald

“ödland/wasteland”  has participated in the following festivals and has received many prices:

63th Berlin International Film Festival; Refugee Review Warsaw;12 Semana de Cine Aleman (Mexico);Festival International De Cine De Monterey;Oaxaca Film Festival ;Nuremberg International Human Rights, Festival, Unabhängiges FilmFest Osnabrück; Duisburger Filmwoche; International Film Festival, Bratislava; Kinofest Lünen;Exposed Filmfestival;Olympia Inernational Film Festival; 54 Festival dei Popoli; This Human World’ 3rd Flashpoint Human Rights Festival Mumbai; London International Documentary Festival (LIDF)

more here on the film’s site

 

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