A scene from Im Weissen Rossl at the Oper Graz, Austria
Im Weissen Rössl is being performed in rep at the Oper Graz, Graz, Austria.
Following the success of Josef Ernst Köpplinger’s first production as artistic director at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in Munich, the tale of the butler Leopold (with Daniel Prohaska reprising his role) and the owner of the famous Das Weisse Rössl (The White Horse Inn) portrayed by Sigrid Hauser again, transfers to the Opera House in Graz.
It occurred to me, as I entered the theatre, that travelling seems to be a theme for Im Weissen Rössl, particularly for this production. This is not only due to the fact that the original venue was a tent (since the main house is currently being refurbished and should open its doors in 2015) and that it has also now crossed the Austrian border, but also because the audiences are taken on a journey. The foyer was packed with traditional dancers and musicians performers, and when it was time to enter the theatre, we had our very own guide (played with a lot of charm and humour by Uschi Plautz), who welcomed us and asked us to hop on the bus to the spa town of Bad Ischl. She also appeared throughout the three acts, speaking in both German and a lousy, but thoroughly entertaining, English.
Prohaska is sensational acting-wise, determined and emotional at the same time, and shines throughout the entire show. Hauser shows off her skills as a trained singer, particularly in the title song of the show. She displays her tough side, but as the story unfolds into a happy ending, she shows her emotions too. The Chefdramaturg of the Volksoper and TV personality Christoph Wagner-Trenkwitz is quite humorous as Sigismund Sülzheimer, while Bettina Mönch is solid as Klärchen. Her acting is decent, her dancing too, and she sings her only number with a lot of sympathy. Tillman Unger as Dr Otto Siedler is vocally impressive. His Ottilie is played beautifully by ensemble member Sieglinde Feldhofer. One of my personal highlights is their duet ‘Mein Liebeslied Muss Ein Walzer Sein’ (My Love Song Has to Be a Waltz).
Dirk Lohr is very funny as Dr Giesecke, even though it is hard to understand everything he says because of his Berlin accent, which he does need to for the role. Even though the character itself isn’t extremely relevant to the development of the story, Götz Zemann is a very charismatic Emperor, knowing how to use his comedy skills at the right time. Wolfgang Krassnitzer impresses as Prof Hinzelmann.
While the singing on the whole, both solos and duets are very good, it is a shame that when it comes to ensemble numbers, and yes, there are quite a few of those, you cannot always understand what they are singing.
Josef Ernst Köpplinger knows how to handle a production of this classic, which originally opened in 1930 in Berlin and was then made famous by the film starring Peter Alexander in 1960. The acting is fast, the jokes work well and the singing, as already established, is beautiful.
Karl Alfred Schreiner’s choreography is fast-paced, slightly modern, but without neglecting the traditional elements of the show. Particularly interesting is the waltz scene as well as most of the ensemble numbers, especially the entrance scene of Leopold (‘Aber meine Herrschaften’).
The sets, which, as well as the costumes are designed by Rainer Sinell, are bright, with a blue sky and tiny clouds and a “moving” Wolfgangsee, which is where the entire show takes place. Particularly effective is the use of three separate performing spaces: the main stage (where most of the show happens), the mountains in the background framed like a postcard, and the small stage right in the centre above the orchestra pit, which allows the cast to interact with the audience.
Florian Erdl conducts the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a string trio and a jazz combo, and serves as musical director.
Im Weissen Rössl is loosely based on the play by Oscar Blumenthal and Gustav Kadelburg, is written by Hans Müller and Erik Charell, with lyrics by Robert Gilbert, and features four additional songs by Bruno Granichstaedten, Robert Gilbert and Robert Stolz. The show is a co-production with the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, Munich.
Ludovico Lucchesi Palli
http://www.oper-graz.com/vorstellung.php?id=17633&cat&type
www.staatstheater-am-gaertnerplatz.de
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