Download DON G. - I Solisti del Vento

PROSPECTING FILE
DON G.
A story of love, passion and adultery based on the
opera ‘Don Giovanni’ by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
On the occasion of the Mozart year I Solisti del Vento and Puppet Theatre Taptoe joined forces to stage Don G.,
based on Mozart’s opera ‘Don Giovanni’. With its visualisation and ingenious scenography this particular mix of
puppet theatre and live music will appeal to adults and a young audience alike.
DON G.
Starting point is the opera Don Giovanni (Il dissoluto punito), in Mozart’s time rewritten for a wind instrument
ensemble, together with Lorenzo da Ponte’s corresponding libretto.
This arrangement of the opera being virtually unknown, I Solisti del Vento wanted to rescue it from obscurity.
The work is presented without vocal parts, since the singing lines are taken over by the instruments. The opera
remains recognisable in its musical aspects, yet it is far more compact.
Theater Taptoe takes up the challenge to relate the story through images.
They revert to the original sources on which also the librettist da Ponte based himself, viz. the books and
writings of the eighteenth century womaniser Casanova.
Rather than playing the story of Don Giovanni, our aim is to show a tale of passion, love, cunning and guile, in
combination indeed with the broad dramatic outlines and retaining the strong ending with the Commandatore’s
statue coming to life.
In any case a scene like that comes out best in figure theatre.
Don Giovanni’s servant in the opera is Leporello, who borrowed his character from one of the best known
“zanni” in Commedia dell’arte: Pulchinella. Being also the progenitor of a whole range of European puppet
theatre heroes, the link with figure theatre is all the more obvious.
For the setting we want to refer to 18th-century Venice, without therefore being droll or traditional. As to the
puppet theatre techniques we create an interpretation of the Japanese Bunraku.
Don Giovanni in our version becomes the profligate DON G., ever in search of the G-spot.
Don G. aims at uniting nine virtuoso Solisti del Vento instrumentalists and four virtuoso Theater Taptoe
puppeteers, under a heart beating restlessly and craving for love.
The heart is pierced, Cupid has accomplished his work and blood spills over the white damask tablecloth.
The play of fidelity, but mostly infidelity, is ready to start.
Don G. has the ambition of being a production that creatively deals with the international heritage while
appealing to a youthful public through its visualising power.
MUSIC
In the 18th and 19th century transcribing a composition used to be the pre-eminent way to express respect and
appreciation. Moreover, arrangements allowed propagating the work and presenting it to a wider public. In the
19th century this was done mainly through transcriptions for piano, whether or not fourhanded, while in the
18th century wind instrument bands were the most appropriate means. The cast of this wind section usually
consisted of eight instruments (2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns and 2 bassoons), sometimes supplemented by a
contrabassoon and a double bass. This ensemble was particularly popular in Mozart’s time. It was possible to
hire an ensemble for a special occasion and at times they made music walking in the street. Several sovereigns
and aristocrats had their own “Harmoniemusik”, for instance Prince Lichtenstein in Felsberg.
The Bohemian Josef Triebensee (1772-1846) was part of the band as first oboist. He himself composed twelve
operas, but he went down in music history as a composer and arranger for wind instruments. He had a keen
empathy with the music of Mozart, under whose conducting he had participated in the 1791 première of Die
Zauberflöte. Triebensee transcribed several of Mozart’s works, among which Don Giovanni. Another important
arranger was Triebensee’s father-in-law Johann Went (1745-1801). He, too, was a Bohemian oboist, who
played with the “Harmonie” of Prince Schwarzenberg and with the “Kaiserlich-Königliche Harmonie”. He
transcribed at least five Mozart operas for wind instrument bands.
Via such an arrangement listeners who had seen the opera could relive the experience again. For the others it
was the most appropriate way to get to know the work through a well considered selection. To an inventive
arranger the colour palette of the eight instruments was sufficient to evoke the singing parts as well as the
orchestral pieces. An arrangement for winds can thus be the ideal initiation to a work as complex as an opera.
Possible barriers such as the great number of characters, the foreign singing language and the often intricate
plot have been discarded and by the selective arrangement the work as it were has been reduced to its
essence.
Whatever dramatic force is lost – since opera is bound to be a particular form of theatre – has been recovered
in this performance by the very specific imagery of figure theatre. As such the combination of “Harmonie” music
and figure theatre becomes the perfectly accessible introduction to an opera, in a way that does justice to both
music and drama.
PERFORMERS
Theater Taptoe
Theater Taptoe is one of the oldest, professional puppet theatres in Belgium. The company is regularly invited
abroad and was hosted by most of the famous puppet theatre festivals worldwide. As such Taptoe was
nominated three times Cultural Ambassador of Flanders. Theater Taptoe is especially known for its exceptional
mix of various puppet- and figure techniques. The past 4 years, and under the direction of Luk De Bruyker and
Dirk De Strooper , music became more and more important in the spectacles. In 2006 a first music theatre
production was realized in collaboration with I Solisti del Vento: “Don G”, an adaptation of W.A. Mozart’s opera
“Don Giovanni”. Ever since, the company combines puppets, figures and live-music into unusual and attractive
overall spectacles.
Luk De Bruyker
founded the Theater Taptoe company in 1968 and since then has travelled throughout the world with it for over
35 years. He was co producer of Vina Bovy’s life story, one of the most famous Flemish opera divas in Flemish
Opera. For the Italian opera foundation he designed the settings of Cavaleria Rusticana and I Pagliace at the
Amsterdam Gashouder stage. He realised the figure play in the opera Trouble in Tahiti, a production of Theater
Transparant.
In Don G. he is co responsible for the concept and dramatisation, as well as being one of the figure players.
Dirk De Strooper
has for 10 years been a permanent member of the Theater Taptoe ensemble and since the 2004-2005 season
jointly responsible for the artistic aspects of the company’s productions. As a young academy student he had
walk-on parts in the Ghent opera. In 2003 he wrote his first production for under fives, a wordless, poetic and
strongly visual story. In Don G. he designed the figures while being jointly responsible for the concept and the
theatrical imagery.
I Solisti del Vento
I Solisti del Vento (1987) is Belgium’s most important wind ensemble and ensures the interpretation,
exploration, spreading and valorization of the main wind repertoire from Mozart until the present days. The
productions are characterized by an enthusiast and healthy search for adventure in style, genre and
presentation format. Through the artistic direction of Francis Pollet the ensemble has developed into a pliable
formation which can equal any top international wind ensemble for (chamber) music. At its heart are top
musicians, each having an international reputation as a renowned chamber musician as well as a celebrated
soloist. Thanks to its unique personality and artistic quality, I Solisti del Vento has performed at Belgium’s and
Holland’s most important concert locations and festivals.The ensemble regularly participates in radio recordings
and creations. I Solisti del Vento actively performs on an international level as well. In 2008 for example the
ensemble was invited at the international festivals of Edinburgh, Helsinki, Bremen, Tallinn, Saintes, Nancy and
Turin.
PRACTICALITIES
Première 17 March 2006, Ghent (Belgium)
Performances
season 2005-2006:
18 March 2006
20.00 h
19 March 2006
11.00 & 15.00 h Gent (Belgium), Minardschouwburg
Gent (Belgium), Minardschouwburg Première
23 March 2006
20.00 h
Brussel (Belgium), VCA - Anderlecht
25 March 2006
20.30 h
Den Haag (The Netherlands), De Regentes
31 March 2006
20.00 h
Mol (Belgium), CC 't Getouw
1 April 2006
20.15 h
Lommel (Belgium), CC De Adelberg
22 April 2006
20.00 h
Menen (Belgium), CC De Steiger
25 April 2006
14.00 & 20.00 h Antwerpen (Belgium), deSingel - Rode Zaal
3 May 2006
20.00 h
Westerlo (Belgium), CC De Zoerla
5 May 2006
20.00 h
Roeselare (Belgium), CC De Spil
11 May 2006
20.00 h
Aalst (Belgium), CC De Werf
12 May 2006
20.30 h
Ternat (Belgium), CC De Ploter
2 October 2006
20.30 h
Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Stadsschouwburg
6 October 2006
20.00 h
Tubize (Belgium), C.C. Le Gymnase
12 October 2006
20.00 h
Bruges (Belgium), Stadsschouwburg
31 October 2006
21.00 h
Venray (The Netherlands), Schouwburg Venray
2 November 2006
20.15 h
Etten-Leur (The Netherlands), C.C. De Nobelaer
3 November 2006
20.15 h
Arnhem (The Netherlands), Schouwburg Musis Sacrum
4 November 2006
20.15 h
Groningen (The Netherlands), De Oosterpoort
6 November 2006
20.00 h
Kerkrade (The Netherlands), Parkstad Limburg Theaters
7 November 2006
20.15 h
Nijmegen (The Netherlands), Schouwburg de Vereeniging
14 November 2006
20.15 h
Kortrijk (Belgium), De Kortrijkse schouwburg
23 November 2006
20.30 h
Breda (The Netherlands), Chassé-Theater
24 November 2006
20.15 h
Leiden (The Netherlands), Leidse Schouwburg
30 November 2006
20.00 h
Tienen (Belgium), C.C. De Kruisboog
17 April 2007
20.00 h
Kampen (The Netherlands), Stadsgehoorzaal
season 2006-2007:
season 2007-2008:
28 September 2007
14.00 h
Strombeek (Belgium), CC Strombeek-Bever – school presentation
28 September 2007
20.15h
Strombeek (Belgium), CC Strombeek-Bever
3 November 2007
20.00h
Ghent (Belgium) – in the frame of the ‘Landjuweel’ festival (option)
24 January 2008
14.00 h
Ghent (Belgium), Flemish Opera – school presentations
25 January 2008
10.00 & 14.00 h Ghent (Belgium), Flemish Opera – school presentations
26 January 2008
20.00 h
Ghent (Belgium), Flemish Opera
27 January 2008
20.15h
Helmond (The Netherlands), Theater ‘t Speelhuis
20 February 2008
20.30 h
Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Theater Bellevue
18 April 2008
20.00 h
Harelbeke (Belgium), CC Het Spoor
3 May 2008
20.15 h
Frouard, Lorraine (France), Festival Géo Condé
6 Octobre 2008
21.00 h
Turino (Italy), Festival Incanti
3 December 2008
20.00 h
Herentals (Belgium), CC ‘t Schaliken
season 2008-2009:
sales via I Solisti del Vento
Buy-out price: honorarium (to be discussed) + séjours/hotel/transport for 17 people
more presentations: reduction to be discussed
2 presentations on 1 day: reduction to be discussed (max. 1 school presentation)
We have a subvention from the Flemish Government to cover (part of ) the transport
Location: Opera Houses, Cultural Centres and Playhouses. Be aware of the technical implications.
The lighting is a basic part of the performance.
Strength I Solisti del Vento: 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 1 contrabassoon
Cast Theater Taptoe: 5 persons
Technical staff: 3 persons
Length: 65 minutes
Introduction possible: 30 minutes, by the artistic directors Luk De Bruyker-Theatre Taptoe and Francis
Pollet-I Solisti del Vento
Extra trump: educational file (at this moment available in Dutch, to be translated, downloadable on our
website, version NL, on the Don G. page) for age 14+
Promotional material available:
- DVD (compilations 2’30 and 11’ + full version)
- Sound fragments by I Solisti del Vento
- Photo’s : on website www.isolistidelvento.be
download via Pers page (Dutch version)
Inlognaam: ISDV – wachtwoord: pers
PRESS RELEASES
- De Standaard, Belgium
- De Morgen, Belgium
- Het Belang van Limburg, Belgium
- De Haagse Courant, Netherlands
- Brabo-online, Internet
- Haag West Nieuws, Netherlands
excerpts
"Not everyone walks the treaded paths during the Mozart year. The artistic joint venture of Antwerp-based wind
ensemble I Solisti del Vento with Ghent-based puppet theatre company Taptoe departs from an original line of
approach."
de Morgen, Jan De Smet
"I Solisti del Vento, arranged on both sides of the stage, finds a beautiful balance between the tragic episodes
and the lightness that are so typing of Mozart. The musicians don't always stay on the sidelines, but intermingle
now and then carefully with the puppet players. The elegance of the winds, typical for Mozart, is mirrored in the
beautifully dressed up puppets and their Venetian masks. This subtle production doesn't need song nor words
to bring a gigantic Mozart opera in miniature version."
de Standaard, Veronique Rubens
"Splashing Don Giovanni, played in mini format.
The audience was overcome by the unbridled imagination and the visual spectacle. Musically the performance is
equally overwhelming. The wind players of I Solisti del Vento are perfectly on the same wavelength. Deep
roaring, the French horns and bassoons evoke dark colours. Above it the oboes and clarinets perform a light
dance. The charm with which the wind players play Mozart's melodies makes one forget the absence of voices."
Haagse Courant (NL), Winand Van de Kamp
"It was a fairy-like evening. Don G. was an excellent choice of De Regentes to fill in the Mozart year. The
gestures and setting were rich of symbolism, the puppet play unbelievably subtle ... but the piece was also very
funny and entertaining."
Haag West Nieuws (NL), Lilian van Dijk
"Don G. is not just music theatre, it is an inextricable blend of actors, puppets and musicians."
Het Belang van Limburg, An Smets
"Words are not enough to describe this spectacle. It needs to be viewed and listened to and I assure that the
audience will leave the theatre with great satisfaction and a long lasting positive memory of this puppet play,
where humanity is central."
Brabo Online, Ludwig van Mechelen
PRINTING MATERIAL
- program leaflet
- flyer
- banner
FURTHER INFORMATION?
Theater Taptoe
I Solisti del Vento
Bart Medaer
Inge Simoens
Abrahamstraat 15
Jan van Rijswijcklaan 155
B-9000 Ghent
B-2018 Antwerpen
t +32 9 223 67 58
t +32 3 241 01 34
f +32 9 233 54 67
f +32 3 244 18 14
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.theatertaptoe.be
www.isolistidelvento.be