Waltraud Meier and Edo De Waart on Bayreuth
From "A Conversation with Edo de Waart and Waltraud Meier" on The Boston Wagner Society's Homepage
Waltraud Meier: [Bayreuth operated] on the idea that the opera is a work in progress. I was at Bayreuth for 17 seasons, until 2000. They repeat productions for five to seven years and try to keep the same cast. [In this way] the director has a chance to change things in the following year, which can’t be done in opera houses with the repertoire system. The Chereau Ring was different in its first year from its last year. In Bayreuth the sound builds up, goes first to the stage, then mixes with the voices, and then goes to the audience. This is what makes it special. The audience is not distracted by anything.
Edo De Waart: The problem with the orchestra there is that it makes a lot of noise, making it impossible to hear the singers. It’s mind-bogglingly impossible [to conduct].
Waltraud Meier: The orchestra is very loud. At first I gave it all I had, but I was screaming. Everywhere else you have to be a little bit ahead of the beat, but in Bayreuth you can sing at the same time [as the beat].
Read the whole conversation here
Waltraud Meier
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