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{{Short description|Austrian theater and opera director}} |
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[[Image:Walter Felsenstein.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Walter Felsenstein.]] |
[[Image:Walter Felsenstein.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Walter Felsenstein.]] |
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'''Walter Felsenstein''' (30 May 1901 – 8 October 1975) was an Austrian [[theatre director|theater]] and [[opera]] director. |
'''Walter Felsenstein''' (30 May 1901 – 8 October 1975) was an Austrian [[theatre director|theater]] and [[opera]] director. |
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He was one of the most important exponents of textual accuracy, productions in which dramatic and musical values were exquisitely researched and balanced. His most famous students were [[Götz Friedrich]] and [[Harry Kupfer]] both of whom went on to have important careers developing Felsenstein's work. Opera director [[Siegfried Schoenbohm]] was one of his assistants. |
He was one of the most important exponents of textual accuracy, productions in which dramatic and musical values were exquisitely researched and balanced. His most famous students were [[Götz Friedrich]] and [[Harry Kupfer]] both of whom went on to have important careers developing Felsenstein's work. Opera director [[Siegfried Schoenbohm]] was one of his assistants. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Felsenstein was born in [[Vienna]] and began his career at the [[Burgtheater]] |
Felsenstein was born in [[Vienna]] and began his career at the [[Burgtheater]] there. From 1923 to 1932, he was a theater actor in [[Lübeck]], [[Mannheim]] and [[Beuthen]], where he first worked as a director. In [[Basel]] and [[Freiburg im Breisgau]], he became closely acquainted with the contemporary concert hall. |
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From 1932 to 1934 he worked as an opera director in [[Cologne]], and from 1934 to 1936 at [[Frankfurt]]. He worked in [[ |
From 1932 to 1934 he worked as an opera director in [[Cologne]], and from 1934 to 1936 at the [[Oper Frankfurt]]. He worked in [[Zürich]] from 1938 to 1940 and returned in 1940 to Germany, where he was active at the Berlin [[Schillertheater]] until 1944. Additionally, he worked as a guest director in [[Theater Aachen|Aachen]], [[Düsseldorf]], [[Metz]] and [[Strassburg]]. In 1942 he produced ''[[Le nozze di Figaro]]'' at the [[Salzburg Festival]], with [[Clemens Krauss]] conducting, and sets and costumes by [[Stefan Hlawa]]. |
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From 1945 to 1947 he worked at the [[ |
From 1945 to 1947 he worked at the [[Hebbel-Theater]] in [[Berlin]]. In 1947 he created the [[Komische Oper]] in [[East Berlin]], where he worked as director until his death. From 1956 on he was vice-president of the [[Academy of Arts, Berlin]] of the [[German Democratic Republic]]. He was awarded the National Prize of [[German Democratic Republic|DDR]] in 1950, 1951, 1956, 1960, and 1970. |
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Although his presence in the German Democratic Republic was "mostly an accident of geography," he was able to get the support of the government do his life's work.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/arts/music/18davi.html|title=Aria! Action! Making Opera a Director's Art|first=Peter G.|last=Davis|date=May 18, 2008|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Together with the |
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| ⚫ | Together with the Komische Oper troupe he visited the [[USSR]] a few times. In 1969 he directed the [[Russian language]] production of ''[[Carmen]]'' by [[Bizet]] at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theater in [[Moscow]]. In Moscow it was stated that his way of the opera staging was similar to the principles of [[Konstantin Stanislavsky]]. |
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Felsenstein died at age 74 in [[East Berlin]]. He is buried in Kloster on [[Hiddensee]], an island in the [[Baltic Sea]]. |
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Felsenstein died at age 74 in [[East Berlin]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Dyer |first=Richard |date=19 October 1975 |title=Opera director Walter Felsenstein: The legend was also a reality |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51660495/walter-felsenstein-obituary/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |location=Boston |page=114 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 October 1975 |title=Walter Felsenstein |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51661683/walter-felsenstein-obituary/ |work=[[New York Daily News]] |location=New York City |page=104 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> He is buried in Kloster on [[Hiddensee]], an island in the [[Baltic Sea]]. |
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==Translations== |
==Translations== |
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He translated and edited numerous operatic works into German, including ''[[Carmen]]'' ([[Georges Bizet]], 1949) and ''[[La traviata]]'' ([[Giuseppe Verdi]], 1955). Famous productions include ''[[Die Zauberflöte]]'' ([[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], 1954), ''[[Les contes d' |
He translated and edited numerous operatic works into German, including ''[[Carmen]]'' ([[Georges Bizet]], 1949) and ''[[La traviata]]'' ([[Giuseppe Verdi]], 1955). Famous productions include ''[[Die Zauberflöte]]'' ([[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], 1954), ''[[Les contes d'Hoffmann]]'' ([[Jacques Offenbach]], 1958), ''[[Otello]]'' (Verdi, 1959), ''[[Barbe-bleue (opera)|Barbe-bleue]]'' (Offenbach, 1961), ''[[The Cunning Little Vixen]]'' ([[Leoš Janáček]], 1956), and ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream (opera)|A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' ([[Benjamin Britten]]). The foreign-language operas Felsenstein produced were not usually set in their original tongue, but in a German translation. |
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==Notes== |
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<references /> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*Davis, Peter G., [ |
*Davis, Peter G., [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/arts/music/18davi.html "Aria! Action! Making Opera a Director’s Art"], ''[[New York Times]]'', May 18, 2008. Accessed 12 November 2008. |
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*Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera'', p. |
*Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera'', p. 237. {{ISBN|0-19-869164-5}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{IMDb name|0271581|Walter Felsenstein}} |
*{{IMDb name|0271581|Walter Felsenstein}} |
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* [https://www.mediathek.at/nc/type/8000/searchQuery/1155/hash/YDRkh7CL/ Audio recordings with Walter Felsenstein] in the Online Archive of the [[Österreichische Mediathek]] (Interviews and radio reports) {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 2. March 2020 |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| NAME =Felsenstein, Walter |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 30 May 1901 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = 8 October 1975 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Felsenstein, Walter}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Felsenstein, Walter}} |
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[[Category:1901 births]] |
[[Category:1901 births]] |
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[[Category:1975 deaths]] |
[[Category:1975 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Theatre people from Vienna]] |
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[[Category:Theatre in Austria]] |
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[[Category:Austrian opera directors]] |
[[Category:Austrian opera directors]] |
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[[Category:Austrian theatre directors]] |
[[Category:Austrian theatre directors]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Karl Marx]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the National Prize of East Germany]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the National Prize of East Germany]] |
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[[de:Walter Felsenstein]] |
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[[es:Walter Felsenstein]] |
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[[fr:Walter Felsenstein]] |
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[[ja:ヴァルター・フェルゼンシュタイン]] |
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[[pl:Walter Felsenstein]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:40, 18 January 2024
Walter Felsenstein (30 May 1901 – 8 October 1975) was an Austrian theater and opera director.
He was one of the most important exponents of textual accuracy, productions in which dramatic and musical values were exquisitely researched and balanced. His most famous students were Götz Friedrich and Harry Kupfer both of whom went on to have important careers developing Felsenstein's work. Opera director Siegfried Schoenbohm was one of his assistants.
Biography
[edit]Felsenstein was born in Vienna and began his career at the Burgtheater there. From 1923 to 1932, he was a theater actor in Lübeck, Mannheim and Beuthen, where he first worked as a director. In Basel and Freiburg im Breisgau, he became closely acquainted with the contemporary concert hall.
From 1932 to 1934 he worked as an opera director in Cologne, and from 1934 to 1936 at the Oper Frankfurt. He worked in Zürich from 1938 to 1940 and returned in 1940 to Germany, where he was active at the Berlin Schillertheater until 1944. Additionally, he worked as a guest director in Aachen, Düsseldorf, Metz and Strassburg. In 1942 he produced Le nozze di Figaro at the Salzburg Festival, with Clemens Krauss conducting, and sets and costumes by Stefan Hlawa.
From 1945 to 1947 he worked at the Hebbel-Theater in Berlin. In 1947 he created the Komische Oper in East Berlin, where he worked as director until his death. From 1956 on he was vice-president of the Academy of Arts, Berlin of the German Democratic Republic. He was awarded the National Prize of DDR in 1950, 1951, 1956, 1960, and 1970.
Although his presence in the German Democratic Republic was "mostly an accident of geography," he was able to get the support of the government do his life's work.[1]
Together with the Komische Oper troupe he visited the USSR a few times. In 1969 he directed the Russian language production of Carmen by Bizet at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theater in Moscow. In Moscow it was stated that his way of the opera staging was similar to the principles of Konstantin Stanislavsky.
Felsenstein died at age 74 in East Berlin.[2][3] He is buried in Kloster on Hiddensee, an island in the Baltic Sea.
Translations
[edit]He translated and edited numerous operatic works into German, including Carmen (Georges Bizet, 1949) and La traviata (Giuseppe Verdi, 1955). Famous productions include Die Zauberflöte (Mozart, 1954), Les contes d'Hoffmann (Jacques Offenbach, 1958), Otello (Verdi, 1959), Barbe-bleue (Offenbach, 1961), The Cunning Little Vixen (Leoš Janáček, 1956), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Benjamin Britten). The foreign-language operas Felsenstein produced were not usually set in their original tongue, but in a German translation.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Davis, Peter G. (May 18, 2008). "Aria! Action! Making Opera a Director's Art" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Dyer, Richard (19 October 1975). "Opera director Walter Felsenstein: The legend was also a reality". The Boston Globe. Boston. p. 114. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Walter Felsenstein". New York Daily News. New York City. 9 October 1975. p. 104. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
References
[edit]- Davis, Peter G., "Aria! Action! Making Opera a Director’s Art", New York Times, May 18, 2008. Accessed 12 November 2008.
- Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, p. 237. ISBN 0-19-869164-5
External links
[edit]- Walter Felsenstein at IMDb
- Audio recordings with Walter Felsenstein in the Online Archive of the Österreichische Mediathek (Interviews and radio reports) (in German) Retrieved 2. March 2020
