1314 Program Notes: Salzburg Marionette Theater

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salzburg Marionette Theater 100th Anniversary Tour thursday –Sunday, November 7–10, 2013

Thursday, November 7 | The Ring of the Nibelung

The Ring of the Nibelung

Role

By Richard Wagner Coproduction from Salzburg Marionette Theatre and Salzburg State Theatre Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker Conductor: Sir Georg Solti Recording: Decca 1958–1964

She He Loge

Direction Carl Philip von Maldeghem Stage Direction Carl Philip von Maldeghem Marionette and Set Design Christian Floeren Associate Direction Claudia Carus und Team Musical Concept Philippe Brunner Actors Christiani Wetter, Yoann Moess Marionette Players Heide Hölzl, Michaela Obermayer, Eva Wiener, Ursula Winzer, Philippe Brunner, Edouard Funck, Emanuel Paulus Light Design Eduard Stipsits Sound and Light Operator Gerhard Schönberger Stage Coordinator Pierre Droin

F

or the first time in its history the Salzburg Marionette Theatre has staged works by Richard Wagner. A compressed version of The Ring of the Nibelung was premiered in co-operation with the Salzburg State Theatre in March, 2012. The staged version guides the audience—in less than two hours—through Wagner’s world of The Ring and shows the best-known scenes through the unrivalled puppetry of the Salzburg Marionettes. In a very clear manner, the audience is led through Wagner’s epos, a simple form that also makes it easily accessible for Wagner beginners or a younger public. More than that, the performance gives the Wagner enthusiast plenty of pleasure and musically-involved hours listening to Sir Georg Solti’s acclaimed recordings of the operas. The character of Loge will be the narrator of the evening and will guide the audience through the performance in a joyful dialogue with the dwarf Alberich by depicting the overarching context. Two actors of the Salzburg State Theatre will additionally take different parts of characters and interact in a new way with the puppets.

We start on the banks of the River Rhine, following Alberich’s playful game with the Rhinemaidens. We watch him make the ring—the ring that grants its owner the right to rule the world—then meet the giants Fafner and Fasolt and witness Alberich’s loss of the ring and the giants’ brutal fight for it. Finally we follow the gods to the newly-built Valhalla.

Next we see Siegfried pull the sword from the oak, take a wild ride with the Valkyries and witness Wotan’s tender farewell to his beloved daughter, Brünnhilde.

Twenty years later we meet Siegfried again; we watch him forge the new sword, kill the dragon, take the ring and awake sleeping Brünnhilde in the fire-ring.

We see Siegfried give the ring to his love Brünnhilde for safekeeping; we see trickery and subterfuge resulting in the ring being again stolen by Siegfried. Hagen, in search of the ring, kills Siegfried, using information ill gotten from the tricked Brünnhilde. She redeems herself by riding into Siegfried’s funeral pyre, honoring their love. Finally, we see the Rhine flood and the Rhinemaidens receiving back the ring.

Singer/Speaker Puppeteer/Actor Christiani Wetter Yoann Moess Steven Sayer

Das Rheingold Wotan Fricka Freia Froh Donner Loge Mime Alberich Fasolt Fafner Woglinde Wellgunde Flosshilde

George London Kirsten Flagstad Claire Watson Waldemar Kmentt Eberhard Wächter Set Svanholm Paul Kuen Gustav Neidlinger Walter Kreppel Kurt Böhme Oda Balsborg Hetty Plümacher Ira Malaniuk

Die Walküre

Siegmund James King Sieglinde Régine Crespin Hunding Wotan Hans Hotter Brünnhilde Birgit Nilsson Fricka Christa Ludwig Walküren Brigitte Fassbaender

Berit Lindholm

Helga Dernesch

Vera Schlosser

Helen Watts

Vera Little

Claudia Hellmann

Marilyn Tyler Grane

Philippe Brunner Edouard Funck Heide Hölzl Eva Wiener Emanuel Paulus Michaela Obermayr Emanuel Paulus Ursula Winzer Christiani Wetter Yoann Moess Eva Wiener Michaela Obermayr Edouard Funck

Eva Wiener Michaela Obermayr Yoann Moess Philippe Brunner Ursula Winzer Edouard Funck Heide Hölzl Ursula Winzer Eva Wiener Philippe Brunner Emanuel Paulus Edouard Funck

Edouard Funck

Siegfried Siegfried Brünnhilde Der Wanderer Mime Fafner Der Waldvogel

Wolfgang Windgassen Birgit Nilsson Hans Hotter Gerhard Stolze Kurt Böhme Joan Sutherland

Eva Wiener Ursula Winzer Philippe Brunner Emanuel Paulus Edouard Funck Michaela Obermayr

Götterdämmerung Siegfried Wolfgang Windgassen Brünnhilde Birgit Nilsson Hagen Werner Friedel Gutrune Christiani Wetter Gunther Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Grane

Michaela Obermayr Ursula Winzer Emanuel Paulus Yoann Moess Philippe Brunner

friday, November 8 | Magic Flute

The Magic Flute

By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart RIAS-Kammerchor / Berliner Motettenchor RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin Conductor: Ferenc Fricsay Recording: Deutsche Grammophon Production Géza Rech Set Design Günther Schneider-Siemssen Costumes Friedl Aicher Spoken Dialogue Friedl Aicher, Eva Arier, Hannelore Palm, Herta Weber, Karl Blühm, Bert Oberdorfer, Herbert Propst, Geza Rech, Franz Wyzner

Role

Singer/Speaker Puppeteer/Actor

Sarastro Königin der Nacht Pamina Tamino Papageno Papagena Sprecher Monostatos Drei Damen

Drei Knaben

Zwei Geharnischte

Josef Greindl Rita Streich Maria Stader Ernst Häfliger Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Lisa Otto Kim Borg Martin Vantin Marianne Schech / Liselotte Losch / Eva Wiener / Elfriede Grill / Michaela Obermayr /Margarete Klose Margot Guillaume / Maria Reith / Diana Eustrati Howard Vandenburg / Kim Borg

I. Sarastro, High Priest of Isis, has abducted Pamina to remove her from the evil influence of her mother, the Queen of the Night. The young prince Tamino has strayed into the Queen’s realm while hunting; she prevails upon him to rescue Pamina, whose portrait has kindled his love. He is given a magic flute for protection on the way. The birdcatcher Papageno, who will be his companion, receives a magic chime of bells.

In Sarastro’s palace, Pamina is being importuned by the Moor Monostatos, captain of the guard. Papageno is the first to enter the palace; he finds Pamina, and together they go in search of Tamino, who has been guided to the palace by the three Boys. Discovering that Sarastro, far from being a wicked magician, is the high priest in the Temple of Wisdom, Tamino is willing to undergo ordeals in order to be admitted to the Temple and to win Pamina. He plays on his flute, in the hope that Papageno will reply, but only wild animals come. Attempting to escape, Papageno and Pamina are intercepted by Monostatos who is, however, subdued by the magic chimes.

Vladimir Fediakov Vladimir Fediakov Elfriede Grill / Ursula Winzer Heide Hölzl / Philippe Brunner Michaela Obermayr / Eva Wiener Heide Hölzl / Philippe Brunner Pierre Droin Pierre Droin / Emanuel Paulus Ursula Winzer / Vladimir Fediakov / Edouard Funck Philippe Brunner / Vladimir Fediakov / Edouard Funck Vladimir Fediakov / Edouard Funck

II. Sarastro announces to the assembled priests that Tamino has been chosen by the gods as Pamina’s consort, but must first gain admission to the Temple. Monostatos still has designs on Pamina. The Queen of the Night appears and urges her daughter to avenge her by killing Sarastro. When Pamina begs Sarastro’s mercy for her mother, he tells her that vengeful thoughts have no place in the Temple.

Tamino endures all the ordeals with fortitude, even when Pamina believes he is rejecting her because he will not break his vow of silence.

Together, Tamino and Pamina undergo the final ordeals of fire and water. Although Papageno has no taste for ordeals, in the end he is granted his Papagena. The Queen’s attempts to take vengeance on Sarastro through Monostatos (to whom she has promised her daughter as a reward) are in vain. Sarastro receives Tamino and Pamina, now united, into the circle of initiates. The sun’s rays drive away the night.

Sarastro appears with his attendants, making escape impossible.

Monostatos drags in Tamino, and the lovers embrace. Pamina, Tamino and Papageno are taken into the temple, where they are bound to silence.

saturday, November 9 | Hänsel und Gretel

Hänsel und Gretel

By Engelbert Humperdinck After poem from Adelheid Wette Inboccallupo Children’s Choir Inboccallupo Orchestra Conductor: Andreas Schüller Recorded for the Salzburg Marionette Theater

Role

Singer/speaker

Peter (Vater/Father) Jörg Gottschick Gertrud (Mutter/Mother) Martina Hamberg-Möbius Hänsel (Hansel) Kristina Naudé Gretel (Gretel) Annette Dasch Die Knusperhexe (Witch) Giedré Povilaityté Sandmännchen (Sandman) Akiko Hayashida Taumännchen (Dew Fairy) Bini Lee Kinder, Engel, Tiere

Puppeteer/actor Vladimir Fediakov Philippe Brunner / Ursula Winzer Eva Wiener / Elfriede Grill Heide Hölzl / Michaela Obermayr Emanuel Paulus Pierre Droin Vladimir Fediakov / Ursula Winzer The Ensemble

Continued on back

Overture In the forest of Ilsenstein lives a witch who catches children and bakes them for her gingerbread house.

I. The broom-maker’s hut: The parents have gone in search of food, leaving Hansel and Gretel alone with the task of making brooms and darning stockings. The children are hungry; seeing a jug of milk, they start dancing in anticipation of rice pudding, instead of working. Their mother comes home, tired and empty-handed, and in her anger at finding the children not hard at work, she upsets the milk. She sends the children into the forest to pick strawberries, saying they are not to come home until the basket is full. Meanwhile their father returns, merry and laden with food after a successful day. He is horrified to hear that the children are in the forest, where the witch of Ilsenstein will be lying in wait. Both parents rush off to the forest to look for them.

II. Gathering strawberries, the children have come near to Ilsenstein.

Hansel’s basket is full, and Gretel has woven a garland of flowers. They start to play and fail to notice that night is falling. Hansel has forgotten

the way home; the friendly forest suddenly seems threatening and filled with danger. The Sandman appears and promises to protect the children, who say their prayers and settle down to sleep. Fourteen angels watch over them.

III. The Dew Fairy wakes the children. They are hungry—and what do they see? A little house made all of gingerbread—just right for breakfast.

As they nibble at it, the witch comes out and puts them under a spell. Hansel needs fattening up, but Gretel can be baked and eaten immediately. The witch tells her to look into the oven to see if the gingerbread is ready, but Gretel pretends not to understand. The witch demonstrates; Gretel pushes her into the oven and slams the door shut.

The oven explodes and gingerbread children appear, standing stiffly until Hansel breaks the spell on them with the witch’s juniper bush. The gingerbread children thank Hansel and Gretel, who in turn thank their 14 guardian angels. As they all sing a song making fun of the witch, the parents appear and the family is joyfully reunited.

sunday, November 10 | The sound of music

The Sound of Music

Based on the Broadway Musical Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse Suggested by The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp Salzburg Marionette version conceived and directed by Richard Hamburger

Role

Maria Rainer Captain Georg von Trapp Max Detweiler The Mother Abbess Sister Sophia Sister Margaretta Sister Berthe Herr Zeller Rolf Gruber Set design Frau Schmidt Chris Barreca Franz Baroness Elsa Schraeder Costume and puppet design Liesl von Trapp Anita Yavich Friedrich von Trapp Louisa von Trapp Sound design Kurt von Trapp David Budries Brigitta von Trapp Musical direction Marta von Trapp David Rosenmeyer Gretl von Trapp Baron Elberfeld Dramaturgy Admiral von Schreiber Melissa Cooper

Singer/Speaker

Puppeteer/Actor

Christiane Noll Martin Vidnovic Bill Youmans Jeanne Lehman Jennifer Hope Wills Crista Moore Joy Franz Bill Youmans Jonathan Groff Joy Franz Michael McCarty Crista Moore Jennifer Hope Wills Jonathan Groff Jenn Gambatese Matthew Gumley Betsy Hogg Kelsey Fowler Kylie Goldstein Michael McCarty Michael McCarty

Eva Wiener Philippe Brunner Pierre Droin Heidi hölzl Ursula Winzer Vladimir Fediakov Michi Obermaier Heidi Hölzl Vladimir Fediakov Ursula winzer Emanuel Paulus Ursula Winzer Michi Obermaier Pierre Droin Heidi Hölzl Vladimir Fediakov Anne-Lise Droin Ursula Winzer Edouard Funck Pierre Droin Vladimir Fediakov

Salzburg, 1938 Maria, a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey, is too free-spirited to accept the discipline of the order and frequently escapes to the mountains. So the Mother Abbess arranges for Maria to work as Orchestrations a governess for the wealthy, aristocratic navy captain Georg von Trapp, a widower with seven Robert Russell Bennett children. The Captain runs the household as strictly as he does the ships he sails. With kindness and understanding, and by adding music to their normally rigorous schedule, Maria wins the children’s Dance & Choral Arrangements hearts. The Captain, increasingly captivated by Maria, falls in love with her; she returns his affection.

Trude Rittmann Although Captain von Trapp is engaged to the elegant socialite Elsa Schraeder, he eventually marries Sound and Light Maria.

Gerhard Schoenberger But the von Trapps’ married life is quickly disrupted by Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria. They return from their honeymoon to find a telegram summoning the Captain to serve in the navy of the Third Reich. But the Captain is a patriot, passionate about the fulfilling life that Austria has always offered its citizens.

The Istropolis Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Larry Blank

The family has become well known as an amateur singing group, and at the instigation of a family friend, Max Detweiler, the Trapps make a final appearance at the Salzburg Festival. At the end of the performance they manage to escape to Nonnberg Abbey, and from there they cross the mountains on foot to Switzerland.