On February 20, 2019 the winning production of RING AWARD 17, “Don Pasquale” directed by Valentin Schwarz with a set design by Andrea Cozzi, was put on stage in full length at Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier. It is a co-production with Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, where it will be subsequently be perfomed.
This production is the very first opera in France which is simultaneously translated into sign language by two translators who move on stage with the cast – quite an extraordinary feat!
Excerpts from reviews:
“Une création riche en surprises! […] Cette production est unique pour différentes raisons. En dehors de la mise en scène de Valentin Schwarz, dans son décors unique (excellent « cabinet de curiosités » d’Andrea Cozzi, scénographe Lauréat du Ring Award 2017), et jouant beaucoup sur des gags théâtraux plus ou moins typiques, nous avons une première en France avec l’inclusion de deux chant-signeurs à la production.” (Sabino Pena Arcia, classiquenews)
(“A creation full of surprises! […] This production is unique for several reasons, apart from Valentin Schwarz toying with more or less typical theatrical gags in his stage directions in the unique set (excellent “Cabinet of Curiosities” by Andrea Cozzi, winner of RING AWARD 17) , it is also the very first time that two sign-language “singers” are included in an opera production in France.”)
“Le jeune metteur en scène autrichien Valentin Schwarz propose une version très personnelle de l’opéra de Donizetti. […] Sans jamais négliger la dimension bouffe du personnage, [Don Paquale] sait aussi mettre en lumière sa dimension humaine, et son apparition vêtu d’une armure au second acte en fait presque un avatar de Don Quichotte, perdu dans ses chimères et ne comprenant pas vraiment ce qui lui arrive […] À l’instar du metteur en scène et de l’équipe technique, tous les artisans du spectacle sont longuement applaudis par les spectateurs.” (Stéphane Lelièvre, olyrix)
(“The young Austrian director Valentin Schwarz offers a very personal version of Donizetti’s opera […] Without ever neglecting the comical dimension of the character, [Don Paquale] also brings to light its human dimension, and his appearance dressed in armor in the second act is almost an avatar of Don Quixote, lost in his dreams and not really understanding what is happening to him […] The director, the technical team and all artists were rewarded with long-lasting applause by the audience.”)
Photos (c) Marc Ginot
