German director yearns for Iranian classic theater

Tehran Times Art Desk

TEHRAN -- German stage director Nadine Hellriegel said that she is very interested to know more about Iran’s theater especially the classic form.

Hellrigel is currently in Tehran to stage her dramatic opera, “The Medium”, during the 12th International University Theater Festival, which opened on April 25.

Although opera has a specific audience in Germany, it is performed everyday in special theaters and there are independent universities in Germany for teaching opera, she said during a press conference held Monday following a performance of the opera.

“Opera audiences consist of mostly older people, so I made some changes in opera to make a better connection with youth,” she said during a press conference.

She said that Iranian students warmly received her performance and they asked her some very penetrating questions about opera.

She said that she is very interested in exchanging information with Iranian artists and that she has enjoyed her interactions with Iranian students during her sojourn in Iran.

“Although I do not know Persian, I related well to two plays I have seen. This demonstrates the power of theater to form relationships that transcend language,” she mentioned.

“The Medium” is a short (one hour long) two-act dramatic opera with lyrics and music by Gian Carlo Menotti. Hellriegel’s performance is a mixture of classical opera music with modern Rock. The opera tells a story set in the year 1947, which has been modernized with a psychological dimension, telling more about the persons on stage and their histories, added to the original one.

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Dear Nadine Hellriegel

I am honored to declare that 12th IIFUT invites you to perform The Medium performance in this anniversary festival which will be held in Tehran on April 25^th until May 2^th, 2009.

The IIFUT represents that the festival also will borne the expenses of local hospitality, accommodation ,food and local transportation.

Warmest Regards

Pooneh Mojtaba

Deputy of International Section of Festival

www.iifut.net/en

No.8, Balavar Alley, Valli Asr Crossroad, Tehran, Iran

 Madame Flora
Corinna Meyer-Esche

Monica
Véronique Elling

Toby
Michael Gaschler

Mrs Gobineau
Claudia Brandenburger

Musikalische Leitung
Henrik Giese

Assistenz
Anna-Lena Geerdts