The Singing City ( Die singende Stadt )

The Singing City (DVD) (*)

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Original Title: Die singende Stadt
Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
92 min + 45 min extras

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Booklet

Movie filmed in 2011 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )

Directed By:
Vadim Jendreyko

Written By:
Vadim Jendreyko
Thiemo Hehl

Actors:
Calixto Bieito ..... Himself - Opera director
Manfred Honeck ..... Himself - Opera conductor
Mercè Paloma ..... Herself - Costume designer
Xavier Zuber ..... Himself - Literary and artistic director
Susanne Gschwender ..... Herself - Production designer
Albrecht Puhlmann ..... Himself - Manager and artistic director
Andrew Richards ..... Himself - Singer 'Parzifal'
Gregg Baker ..... Himsel - Singer 'Amfortas'
Christiane Iven ..... Herself - Singer 'Kundry'
Stephen Milling ..... Himself - Singer 'Gurnemanz'
Reinhard Traub ..... Himself - Light master
Michael Alber ..... Himself - Chorus master
Claudio Otelli ..... Himself - Singer 'Klingsor'

Synopsis:

Singing in endless hallways. Behind the shelf with the wigs, the blood-filled refrigerator, a flock of elves chirp through the canteen, drums, trumpets, and the ubiquitous loudspeaker voices. Murmurings, big words, absurd dialogues, and every gesture counts.Underneath, down by the sewage system, enormous lifting equipment, a jubilant choir floats to the surface: THE SINGING CITY. The film uses Calixto Bieito's production of Parsifal in Stuttgart as a pretext for exploring the complex universe of a major opera house, and for observing the working lives of the people who populate this extraordinary environment. This is where visions meet the reality of the practicable; where each opera constitutes a Babylonian effort and a sensual pleasure.

Richard Wagner's last opera "Parsifal" is about to performed on stage by the Stuttgart Opera (Die Staatstheater Stuttgart). This is the stage of the documentary "The Singing City", which shows little about the Opera "Parsifal" itself, but a lot about the back stage scenes and dynamics among staff in various roles. Some laughs, tensions and conflicts come along naturally, as if it is one of those reality shows. The most of all, you can see how much these people enjoy being a part of the team. Also you get to put yourself in the director's shoes and emphasize the heavy responsibility on his shoulders, when he is sitting in the empty theatre a few days before the opening day. The documentary ends just before the first real time rehearsal begins. Because it is one of those times when things end but begin at the same time.

In 2010 the Stuttgart Opera started production on Wagner's "Parsifal" and they hired Spanish theatre director Calixto Bieito to produce this massive undertaking, the creation of which was accompanied at every step by director Vadim Jendreyko for his documentary The Singing City (Die singende Stadt).

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 05 December, 2011.

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