Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Remembering my crazy time in Odessa

I got a little frightened recently when I thought that the notes section of Facebook had disappeared. Actually it hasn't, but I thought that I would like to save some of these old notes in a better form. So, here's hoping that this Blog will be safe!

I was interviewed about some opera issues recently and the topic of Carmen came up. I was telling about the amazing time I had in Odessa doing the opera there in 2009 and all the shenanigans that took place. I made the following notes-- worth a read!


Demonstrations at The Odessa Opera Theatre

by Kevin Mallon on Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 11:38 ·
Well it is a huge adventure here in the Ukraine.

There has been a coup d’etat at the Odessa Theatre. The Ministry of culture has appointed the famous Ukrainian stage director Sergey Proskurnya as the New General Director of the Opera Theatre in Odessa (which also houses the ballet company). As part of this new arrangement the idea is that co-productions will be produced by both the Odessa Theatre and Supierz Artist Management in Holland.

This is how I happened to be here. I have been hired by Supierz to conduct 2 productions—one of Camen and one of Don Giovanni. As part of this process Carmen and Don Giovanni are both being produced in Odessa and then taken on tour. Don Giovanni goes to the Netherlands and Belgium for 20 performances Then both Carmen and Don. G go to Spain.

All well and good—but this is where it gets interesting:

The Odessa Theatre has until now done opera in the old style—basic sets with the action happening front and centre. The old production of Carmen is from 1964. Of course there is a romantic, nostalgic attachment to this old production and all the other old shows. Some of the singers in the Opera even sang in the first performance in 1964. The new director has made a sweep – to announce new productions and with it the need to move on and fire some etc. Years old contracts will come to an end and new ones issued in the next few months. People, especially the old timers will definitely lose their jobs!

The new production of Carmen represents the new wave—and of course there are Westerners at the helm—me conducting and the Dutch Director Bert Bijnen and the German costume designer Zana Bosnjak also on the team.

The theatre has risen in revolt—only part of the chorus form the theatre agreed to take part—all men and so the young girls chorus from the Odessa Conservatory have stepped in. This will, of course create an even bigger impact because they are so young and fresh (19,20) as opposed to the aged chorus in the Theatre.

The stage managers have refused to help- the assistant conductor has written a letter to the paper and has joined the picket line demonstrating against the new director and the new production! The TV cameras have shown this on Ukrainian TV.

Even more bizarre is that some of our singers who are from the theater, sing with us at rehearsal and then go to the demonstrations when they can!

The latest seems to be that the old-timers are buying up all the tickets to Carmen to get hecklers in the audience!

But the singers who are working on the new Carmen—all young and sexy! are great—as is the orchestra.

I try to win everyone over with good humor and passion for the music. I don't care about anything other than the music-- but it is tiring to hear about all this shit constantly. For the Director Bert it is difficult because it means that nobody in the theatre will help-- including stage managers and technical staff etc. And there is always a chance that the things will just fall apart. Quite the scandal-- I love it really, it is a huge adventure-- and thank God I know Carmen well, so although I am working like a dog and there are all sorts of problems I'm fairly relaxed!

Here's a few pictures of the beautiful Odessa opera House:




same orchestra-- different orchestra!!!

by Kevin Mallon on Monday, 6 July 2009 at 09:54 ·
So, dear friends-- those of you that are following my saga in Odessa-- here is some more news!


I told you that the orchestra was out demonstrating yesterday and then they would come in the evening to work again in the production they are demonstrating against!

Of course it was odd, they had a rehearsal with me on Saturday evening and it was fine. A bit tense, but fine.

The next rehearsal was with the cast on stage, last night and when I went into the pit-- I realized that more than half the orchestra was different! Nearly all the woodwinds-- all the 2nd violins and violas etc.

I asked what was going on and they said that they have a pool of 70 players and they rotate depending who is available! Of course I just about freaked out-- I asked them what was the point of all the detailed work that we did-- and they said, it was ok-- that they would point the details into the parts! It is really sabotage! Then when they played it is as hard as nails-- playing too loud and harsh-- wishing for me to make mistakes, which of course under the circumstances I did. But I rallied and found a way to do it-- a sort of strong physical aggressive approach to conducting which they seemed to like and desire, but this always makes the sound hard and without the subtleties that I think Carmen needs.

So, the adventure continues-- This is the big week leading up to 2 performances at the end of the week. Then I'll be back to Canada to work with civilized musicians-- never thought I would say that!!! But, you know it is all relative! (Aradia has 3 concerts and a series of performances of Dido and Venus and Adonis, end of July start of August).


more anon!!


Carmen premier in Odessa and update!!!!

by Kevin Mallon on Friday, 10 July 2009 at 19:42 ·
Politics in the Ukraine, it seems, are very complicated! I have been too busy to fully work this out, and I was hoping to get some details tonight but an almighty fight broke out -- and the person I was going to ask all the names etc. was involved! (Not me thankfully! so, I just left!)

From what I can figure there has been much maneuvering politically-- Sergey Proskurnya, the newly appointed director of the Odessa Theatre, has been appointed by the Minister of Culture who is from the presidential party, but the prime minister is in a major fight with this party. Since that is the case a delegation of the old timers from the theatre went to see the prime minister and she decided to over-rule the minister of culture and fire Sergey Proskurnya, and will maybe appoint someone else – someone maybe from the old guard in the theatre. It is not fully decided—but I was taking an orchestral rehearsal on Thursday morning when the assistant director (of the old guard) came and interrupted the rehearsal to tell them that they would have a new director and that Sergey Proskurnya was out. All the orchestra cheered-- and you could imagine the position I was put in-- having been invited by Proskurnya. I have been working to show my neutrality in the issue, and so when I asked them what was happening I told them that I wished the best for their future!

So Sergey Proskurnya has maybe a few days left—hopefully enough to pay us—although the assistant director, who, word has it is part of the local mafia has been trying to destroy contracts, including those from us foreigners working on the new Carmen- and strange as it sounds—we signed contracts but were not given copies. (My contract is with the Dutch touring company who have since guaranteed my fee!)

Rumor had it that the performances would not take place, but the performances are sold out—over sold in fact, and tonight for the premier there were 1700 people—there was a line outside the theatre and people in the theatre said they never saw the likes in 25 years. People were sitting on stairs and standing etc just to see the show—which went very well! I seem to have won the orchestra over and the young soloists and chorus did really well—it was a moving and exhilarating performance, people pouring their hearts out on stage. And so the audience was overjoyed and applauded all the time—screamed bravo and the old guard must have been furious.

At the curtain calls the old guard did yell boo—I got 4 or 5 and so too did the designer, lighting designer and director who also took a bow. But the boos were drowned out by the people cheering! (kinda happy to have some boos in my career-- goes nicely with some of Tamara Bernstein's reviews!)

Tomorrow is a different cast including a young 24 yr. old Carmen from Odessa who is under enormous pressure—but it promises to be an amazing passionate evening—again it is sold out!

Nobody knows what will happen about further plans—we are supposed to do Don Giovanni in a month and then also to repeat Carmen before taking both on tour. So God knows where the Don Giovanni will take place!!! But for the moment I’m happy with my success and that we have lived to see the day through and I’ll tell you I am excited to go home (with maybe a day of swimming in the black sea first!)

Interesting times