As of: 08/21/2023 6:02 p.m
Once a year, the Burgplatz in the center of Braunschweig is transformed into an open-air stage with a special charm. This year the Staatstheater Braunschweig is showing Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Tosca” there, which premieres on Saturday.
The rehearsals for Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Tosca” can be heard on the Burgplatz in the middle of Braunschweig. The opera singers practice their performances with great concentration. Because until the premiere on Saturday everything has to be exactly right. In between, the director Anna Bernreitner interrupts the rehearsal.
The director Anna Bernreitner checks whether the actors are in the right place – here and there something is changed again. “We changed a few positions and a few gears again,” explains Bernreitner. “Simply because some things look nicer when it’s the other way around, or that someone is always singing in the direction of the audience and you can follow the whole story well, no matter where you sit.”
Construction as a tour de force: “Huge arena, seating for 1,400 people”
Two of the approximately 40 technicians who make the Burgplatz in Braunschweig the stage for “Tosca”.
Around 40 technicians have been setting up the stage for a few days. This includes a lighting system with special LED spotlights and everything else that a theater needs: cloakroom, toilet, washrooms and so on. It is a feat of strength every year to bring an open-air arena to the historic square, emphasizes technical manager David Els: “We started last week Monday morning at 7 a.m., the square here was completely empty. Now there is a huge arena, fully seated for 1,400 people. The stage design is in place and we can rehearse. Now we still have time to refine the stage design.”
A baroque fresco is painted on the stage floor. Huge angels float on sliding bridges. The pictures are painted with a special paint that also protects against heavy rain.
“Tosca”: Giacomo Puccini’s Opernkrimi
Since its premiere in January 1900, “Tosca” has been one of the most popular works in the music theater repertoire. Puccini wrote an opera thriller that still stirs people up today: with political intrigues, love and fatal desires.
“We represented this three-way constellation with Tosca, Cavaradossi and Scarpia, who is the antagonist, also this political system and tried with all our might to break up the lovers,” explains the director. “You always have this superstructure of the political system. But actually it’s also a total love triangle and that’s what makes it so exciting that it overlaps and works against each other.”
All main roles cast three times
Because of the heavy workload, the main roles are cast in threes. The “Tosca” is sung by the opera singer Karine Babajanyan, among others. The Armenian has played the character on various stages around the world – and even in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
The premiere of “Tosca” on Saturday is already sold out. There are still tickets left for the other performances.
Further information
The Staatstheater Braunschweig is a five-section house and combines the areas of music theater, drama, dance theater, YOUNG! State Theater and State Orchestra.
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NDR Culture | Culture Mirror | 08/22/2023 | 7:00 p.m
Keywords for this article
Oper
2023-08-22 16:38:09
#Braunschweig #State #Theater #rehearses #Tosca #Burgplatz
