BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) — Lower than 41 hours after his closing bows for singing the title position of “Lohengrin” at Munich’s Bavarian State Opera, Piotr Beczała was 150 miles (241 kilometers) away on the Bayreuth Festpielhaus for a unique manufacturing of the identical Wagner opera.
Wagner’s roles are among the many most punishing in classical music, and breaks of two or three days between performances are customary to permit for vocal restoration. Beczała earned thunderous ovations on Wednesday in Munich and Friday at Bayreuth.
“I was a little under pressure because Christian Thielemann is coming back to Bayreuth for this production,” the 58-year-old Polish tenor said, citing his desire to please the conductor. “We did it in 2018 and ’19 so, yeah, I agreed with this crazy schedule.”
Restricted rehearsal time
Beczała and the forged for the revival of Yuval Sharon’s 2018 Bayreuth manufacturing arrived July 12 for 4 hours of blocking at a studio, then had a 7 1/2-hour closing costume rehearsal the next day within the auditorium constructed to Wagner’s specs.
He traveled to Munich on July 14 for a recital 4 days later on the a hundred and fiftieth Munich Opera Competition adopted by “Lohengrin” in Kornél Mundruczó’s 2022 staging on July 27 and 30. Beczała drove again to Bayreuth the following morning for a 3 p.m. music rehearsal with Thielemann, who led Beczała’s first Lohengrin in 2016.
There have been three extra performances at Bayreuth via Aug. 9.
“Having sung Lohengrin in a different production previously, he carries a mature interpretation that can adapt fluidly to different directorial visions,” Bavarian State Opera common director Serge Dorny mentioned. “His preparation for both stagings was meticulous, and we knew that he would approach each performance with total professionalism and focus.”
Lohengrin, a mysterious knight, arrives to unite the divided individuals of Brabant and defend the noblewoman Elsa from the false accusation she murdered her brother. He agrees to marry her on the situation she by no means ask him his title or origin.
A veteran of seven productions
Beczała additionally has sung Lohengrin in Dresden, Vienna, New York, Paris and Zurich.
Mundruczó and Sharon, like many modern administrators, deserted Wagner’s 1850 stage instructions which have Lohengrin arrive and depart on a ship pulled by a swan.
“He is not necessarily coming as a God-sent person,” Mundruczó said. “It’s more like someone who we are choosing, so somehow it’s one of us.”
Monika Pormale designed stark white units for Munich that included hilly, grassy areas within the first act. Beczała practically slipped however caught his stability in time.
Anna Axer Fijalkowska costumed Lohengrin in cream as a standard man relatively than medieval finery: denims, sweatshirt and loafers.
“I go, to be honest, on airplanes more elegant than that,” Beczała mentioned, laughing.
Anna Brunnlechner, the revival stage director, did not thoughts the compressed observe interval.
“I desire a really intense time, additionally with a little bit of adrenaline, than a really lengthy rehearsal time the place you possibly can speak each element,” she mentioned.
Bayreuth’s units and costumes had been by the married artists Neo Rauch and Rosa Loy, dominated by the colour Delft Blue — even Beczała’s wig. Their Lohengrin is dressed like a Nineteen Thirties electrician sporting a shirt and tie with overalls, arriving in a transformer and clutching a lightning bolt for a sword.
Sharon, in an e mail to assistant director Eva-Maria Abelein he shared with the AP, referred to as the opera “the story of the decay of the angel.”
“Lohengrin is a bringer of light, and he is humble at first — he is a servant of a higher force,” he wrote. “But the idea of a year of bodily pleasure, joy, love, four seasons … He can’t resist it. And the character we see in Act II is arrogant, full of himself, and much closer to violence. In Act III, he is brutal with his new wife — because that’s what he thinks humans do.”
Beczała took over for the 2018 manufacturing premiere when Roberto Alagna withdrew 27 days earlier than the primary efficiency.
“Piotr is really exceptional,” Abelein mentioned Saturday. “He took one wrong position last night and then he came off saying, ‘I’m so sorry about this.’ I said, ‘Piotr, it’s not important at all because the way he acted is important.’”
Shock liquid refreshment
Wolfgang Schilly, one other Bayreuth assistant director, supplied Beczała some particular help for this yr’s opener. Beczała was excited about “In fernem land (In a distant land),” the third-act aria when Lohengrin reveals his title to Elsa.
“I could give a thousand dollars for just a little water before the aria but there’s no space,” Beczała recalled telling him Thursday.
Schilly had a tiny gap punctured within the set wall between the place outsized insect wings had been pinned, then inserted a straw connected to a bottle. An appreciative Beczała was capable of sip.
“I’m not so sure that Neo Rauch is happy that we make a hole in his art,” Beczała mentioned, smiling.
