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reid anderson stuttgart ballet orlando professional development giselle marco goecke john cranko canada council for the arts petr pestov krzysztof nowogrodzki evan mckie wayne mcgregor dancer transition resource centre friedemann vogel
Jun
2010
A Glimpse into the Staatstheater Stuttgart
Onstage in The Opera House
It is a real treat to be inside the Staatstheater Stuttgart and experience the feel of a large European Opera House. The building houses offices, rehearsal studios, and wardrobe and production departments for the Opera, the Ballet and the Playhouse (Drei Sparten). There are 1300 employees. Everything from costumes, sets, props and scenic backdrops are built in-house.
As an artist living and working in North America, the model of the Opera House is something very foreign. Dance, opera, and theatre companies function independently in North America and while they may share performance venues, they are rarely housed under one subsidized roof. Here, there is a consant buzz of creative activity and output. I felt really insprired by the sheer energy, and also supremely impressed by the number of such high-calibre professional artists and artisans all working together in one facility.
The “kantine” is situated in a lower wing between the two theatres. Actors, dancers, musicians, choreographers, designers, carpenters and many others dine here at all hours of the day. The route to the kantine from the ballet offices takes you through the opera and orchestra departments where music and song float through the hallways. It is a heart-warming journey, though it reminds one of the extreme differences between how art is perceived and funded in some European and Canadian cities.
A typical week at the Staatstheater Stuttgart sees a performance 6 out of 7 nights in both the Opera House and the Schauspiel (Playhouse). The Opera House (which opened in 1912) seats 1400 while the Schauspiel, built in the early 1960’s, seats 850. Stuttgart Ballet will usually perform once or twice per week – potentially a mixed programme in the Schauspiel one night and then a full-length ballet in the Opera House the next. In the month of May the average capacity of the houses for the ballet was 96%!
It's a great feeling, to see how the different art forms co-exist together - all while being appreciated by so very many people.