PETER STEIN |
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SCHÖNBERG KABARETT |
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Pierrot Lunaire
Composed in 1912 in Berlin, Pierrot Lunaire consists of 21 verses written by the Belgian symbolist poet Albert Giraud and has as protagonist a surreal and macabre clown, a typical decadent character, who is portrayed in 3 different chapters: the sensible and melancholic artist and poet; the expressionist, aggressive and brutal; and the third who is ready to go back to his roots, the Comedia dell’Arte and to Pulcinella. In this masterpiece of the period of transition from exasperated expressionism to free atonality, Schönberg tests for a solo voice the technique of Sprachgesang, a peculiar fusion between speaking and singing that is especially suitable for expressing the nocturnal atmosphere of the texts. Divided in three parts of seven verses each, Pierrot Lunaire requires an instrumental ensemble with piano, flute, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, viola and cello that is composed every time in a different way. Brettl-Lieder Schönberg accepted the invitation to move to Berlin in order to work as music director of a cabaret company, the Überbrettl Theatre. The most of Brettl-Lieder texts are taken from Deutsche Chansons, a poetry book in the cabaret style, published in 1900 by Otto Julius Bierbaum. |
Bierbaum wished to create songs combining the carefree atmosphere of the café-chantant and music from higher origins: Schönberg fully accomplished his expectations, composing ironic and amusing pieces with sexual hints and
witticisms. Each song is alternated with a Schönberg instrumental piece in order to give Maddalena Crippa the chance to change into the costumes of the 8 different characters, six male and only two female. So, disguise is one of the central themes of this show.
“Maddalena Crippa, in the guise of a 1930’s vamp, proceeded to delight the audience with a selection of canzoni, sentimental, humorous and satirical...”. as states Laurence Hugues (The Independent). The conductor of Schönberg Kabarett is Alessandro Nidi, who conducted all the musical events at Teatro Stabile of Parma through 1995. After having won the International Examination for young conductors “Arturo Toscanini”, since 1995 he has worked with the Symphonic Orchestra of Emilia Romagna “Arturo Toscanini”. He has also composed music for many Italian directors and theatres. He founded the groups “Trio Gardel” and “L’inventare musicale”. |
PRODUCTION DATES |