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SEEN AND HEARD
INTERNATIONAL NEWS ITEM
The Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires:
A
vision and a 2009 season (JSJ)
One month and a day after being appointed as the new director of the
Teatro Colón Pedro Pablo García Caffi held a press conference to
present the programme for the 2009 season and his vision for the
future of the house.
Pedro Pablo García Caffi
In a well received message García Caffi committed himself once more
to reinaugurating the theatre in 2010, although without specifying a
date, saying that it was his vision and a priority for the city
government.
Commenting on the former status of the Teatro Colón as one of the
great theatres of the world García Caffi said the objective was to
reclaim this prestige and the artistic excellence of the theatre,
with both an increase in the number of productions and productions
of quality, in line with the best internationally.In addition the
artistic bodies will be strengthened and the entry of young people
will be promoted.
“We are doing this because we want to resolve problems going back
decades and because we want to return to our children the Colón that
was known by our parents,” said García Caffi.
García Caffi noted that Ar$90 million (£17.8 million) is required to
complete the recuperation works during 2009 and that a budget
increase to cover this would be requested. He also noted that the
Colón’s permanent staff of 1,300 was around fifty percent greater
than those of theatres such as Covent Garden, La Scala and the
Staatsoper in Munich, and that it would be brought into line with
the theatre’s mission and objectives.
“We are here today, aware of the task we face, appreciative of the
distinction with which the head of government has honoured us, and
mindful of the legacy of the great men and women who bequeathed us
one of most important theatres of the world... We are here because
we are ready to lead the way for the recovery of the theatre’s
original aims, that is to say its artistic excellence and
international prestige,” said García Caffi, giving every impression
of relishing his new position.
The 2009
season comprises no less than 70 different offerings, which will be presented in
various venues around Buenos Aires.
Four operas are being offered (all at the Teatro Coliseo):
• Jeanne D’Arc au Bûcher by Honneger on May 19, 22, 26. Soloists Vera
Cirkovic (Joan), Didier Sandre (Brother Dominic), conductor John Neschling,
director Roberto Plate.
• Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail by Mozart on July 24, 26, 28. Soloists Verónica Cangemi (Constanza), Natasha Tupin (Blonde), Roberto Saccá (Belmonte), Maurizio Muraro (Osmin), conductor Michael Güttler, Willy Landin.
• Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck on August 25, 28, 30. Soloists Franco Fagioli (Orfeo), Virginia Tola (Euridice), Paula Almerares (Amore), conductor Arnold Östman, director Roberto Oswald.
•
I Due Foscari by Verdi on November 29, December 1, 5.
Soloists Francesco Foscari, Jacopo Foscari, Lucrezia Contarini/Amparo Navarro,
Jacopo Loredano, conductor Carlos Vieu, director Mario Pontiggia.
Other
productions include three ballets (El Corsario, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker),
a sixteen concert series by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires, six
productions from the Teatro Colón Experimentation Centre, including Cage’s
Four Walls and Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, and four outdoor
productions in the Colón in spring series. In addition there will be workshops
and four national and international competitions.
Jonathan Spencer Jones
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