Christian Thielemann has a good time in Bayreuth | TIME ONLINE



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Bayreuth (dpa) – So now even the "Lohengrin": When Wednesday the last notes of the first opening have fallen, Christian Thielemann (59) will have directed the ten operas of Wagner listed in the Bayreuth Festspielhaus,

A performance previously only managed by the conductor and composer Felix Mottl (1856-1911) of Austria. The rehearsal with director Yuval Sharon and the artist Neo Rauch who designed the stage set, felt the musical director relaxed – even if a new singer was to produce the title-role in a short time . Piotr Beczala jumped in – also thanks to Thielemann, the main driver of the Saxon Staatskapelle Dresden.

Question: After the refusal of Roberto Alagna, it was quickly possible to find a replacement for the title role in "Lohengrin". They are considered to have once convinced Piotr Beczala to risk Lohengrin. How satisfied are you with this role in Bayreuth ?

Answer: The replacement is false, Piotr Beczala is not a substitute. It has happened a lot of things here amicably. I called him – and there were very accommodating concert promoters and directors who helped him and freed him from his obligations. I can only thank everyone who has been involved. And I am very satisfied.

Question: With the direction of "Lohengrin" you complete your Bayreuth program. They then directed all of Richard Wagner's operas at the Festspielhaus. Is there a job that is particularly important to you in this environment?

Answer: The beginning with the "Meistersinger von Nürnberg" was something special, it was the time when [der langjährige Festspielchef] Wolfgang Wagner was slowly withdrawing. I was allowed to lead two productions of it – "Meistersinger" and "Parsifal". Very often, I think about working with him, how much he was there, what advice he gave us. But we never felt patronized, after all, he had already heard a lot of drivers here.

Question: What is the most difficult job at the Festspielhaus?

Answer: I have a list of the three most difficult books. Surprisingly difficult is "The Flying Dutchman". This work is the most dangerous because it can quickly become very strong and undifferentiated. Also "The Masters singers of Nuremberg" are not without, but I found myself there very quickly. And I 'm also surprised with the "Lohengrin", how difficult it is to bring the floating sounds. Every opera has its own traps here.

Question: What will happen when the first "Lohengrin" ends on July 25?

Answer: After the opera is in front of the opera – you think about what you can do better next time. I did not think it would happen in Bayreuth. Everything has happened in 20 years. And it's scary how fast 20 years go by, I still remember the first rehearsals here. But it is wonderful that it happened that way. And I've always been lucky with the directors. The current collaboration with Yuval Sharon and Neo Rauch is brilliant human, everyone is laid back and relaxed, we have a good time.

Question: What can we expect from Plácido Domingo, who sang here and now comes back as head of Valkyrie?

Answer: He repeated last Tuesday, everything is going very well. After all, everyone has to fend for themselves in the ditch and make their own experiences. But it will succeed.

STAFF: Christian Thielemann is one of the most famous orchestra conductors. Since 2012, the conductor originally from Saxony-Staatskapelle Dresden and a year later, he also took the artistic direction of the Salzburg Easter Festival. At the Richard Wagner Festival, Thielemann directed for the first time in 2000. He is now Music Director at Bayreuth.

Information on Thielemann on the pages of the festival

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