DAYS ONE AND TWO - Monday March 26 and Tuesday March 27, 2012
It's time to start blogging!
As most of you know (and all will soon), I am spending the next eight weeks in Russia directing an operetta in Yekaterinburg - the 4th largest city in Russia - in the Ural mountains. I will attempt to share the experience as best I can.
Monday morning was one of teary (for me) goodbyes to my amazing wife and children: Janet, Phoebe and Nathaniel. I got into a car with our choreographer, the delightful, Patty Colombo. Here's a little video about her experience that morning!
Then we checked the weather in Yekaterinburg...
We got the the airport where we met Gregg Opelka - the conductor (who speaks fluent Russian - thank G-d) and he had his own story of his morning in Chicago.
JFK was quite relaxing and we boarded a plane to Moscow. Here we are on the plane.
The flight to Moscow was very smooth and easy - and about nine hours long. I watched a couple of movies, slept a bit, ate a bit and before we knew it, we were landing in Moscow.
We had a four hour layover before boarding the plane to Yekaterinburg. I used Skype to call Janet, the kids, my parents and sisters. Skype/Facetime is an amazing thing when traveling abroad and is a great part of what is making this trip/job possible.
The second flight was not quite as smooth. The landing was very bumpy and we were clearly flying through a snow storm. All announcements were spoken first in Russian and then translated into English. All... except for the announcement that came just after we started landing... and, suddenly, started climbing again. This is where Patti grabbed my hand, rather terrified. We had Gregg ask the guy across the aisle what the announcement said and we learned that it might be too dangerous to land in Yekaterinburg so we may be re-routed to Chelyabinsk about 100 miles away. Yikes!!!!!
When the plane finally touched down (with huge bumps and skids) we literally did not know what city we were in - Yekaterinburg or Chelyabinsk. Luckily we were in Yekaterinburg and all was going according to plan.
We were greeted at the airport by Katya - a very pleasant, energetic, smiling representative of the theatre (She seems to function as the company manager), and Victor, one of the conductors whom I had met in New York late last year.
They took us to the theatre - which is also our housing! They have a three room mini-hotel that is in the same building as the theatre - literally continue off stage right, across one of the ballrooms/lobbies, and you will find the rooms where Patti and I are staying. Gregg is staying in an apartment a few miles away.
Our rooms were large, VERY clean and pleasant. Basically furnished with fridge and microwave - but very comfortable. We each have a large sitting room as well as bedroom and bathroom. It must have been about 11PM local time (about 2AM NY time) and we were taken out to a wonderful traditional Russian dinner by the spirited, jovial artistic director, Kirill. I had also met him last year in New York.
None of these folks speak English beyond a few words so aside from Gregg getting us these jobs, and being a fine musician, composer and conductor, he has been beyond invaluable interpreting for us.
Here we are in the resturant. It is called the "pickle room" (russians love pickles - me too - they even introduced me to pickle-flavored potato chips for which I will be forever grateful.) Room is so-called because each of these famous paintings has a pickle in it. You can see it in the picture on the right if you look closely.
The dinner was served at a private dining club called Level 1707 - but Kirill told us the food was prepared by many "babushkas" or grandmothers - all very traditional Russian food. Here's a picture of the food. I have to admit, I didn't eat the pork-filled pasta-thingies so they made me a delicious breast of chicken with a side of potatoes. Really tasty.
There was, of course, the requisite vodka served!
We finished dinner at around 1:30AM which Kirill felt was the perfect time for a tour of the theatre facilities!
But not before Patti made a snow angel in the middle of the sidewalk - much to Kirill's enjoyment!
Apparently, when Patti was working with Ann Margaret, she made Patti promise to make a snow angel at every opportunity. No one can say Patti is not a woman of her word!
At the end of the video, did you notice the "Violinist on the Roof" poster on the side of the theatre! Yes, "Fiddler On The Roof."
We entered the theatre - it is now about 2AM - and we walked through many dark hallways and ended up on a completely empty stage. It was the main theatre (they have just built a 2nd, smaller theatre - which will open later this month - more on that later.) It was a venerable space - full of character, history and theatre spirits (and perhaps a few ghosts, no doubt). I was shocked that the stage was completely empty because this is a theatre which employs over 500 people year round and rotates 26 shows at a time. Kirill explained that after every show, they completely clear out the space to prepare for the next morning's load-in of whatever show is playing. Often, there is a kids' show in the morning and regular show in the evening.
We then viewed some of the rehearsal spaces as well as the ballet room where Patti and Kirill did a little warm up at the barre!
We parted ways, entered our rooms and settled in for a much-needed sleep. Overall impressions were of hospitality, graciousness, kindness, warmth, generosity of spirit and long, deep traditions built upon 80 years as an operating theatre.
More to come!
It's time to start blogging!
As most of you know (and all will soon), I am spending the next eight weeks in Russia directing an operetta in Yekaterinburg - the 4th largest city in Russia - in the Ural mountains. I will attempt to share the experience as best I can.
Monday morning was one of teary (for me) goodbyes to my amazing wife and children: Janet, Phoebe and Nathaniel. I got into a car with our choreographer, the delightful, Patty Colombo. Here's a little video about her experience that morning!
Then we checked the weather in Yekaterinburg...
We got the the airport where we met Gregg Opelka - the conductor (who speaks fluent Russian - thank G-d) and he had his own story of his morning in Chicago.
JFK was quite relaxing and we boarded a plane to Moscow. Here we are on the plane.
We had a four hour layover before boarding the plane to Yekaterinburg. I used Skype to call Janet, the kids, my parents and sisters. Skype/Facetime is an amazing thing when traveling abroad and is a great part of what is making this trip/job possible.
The second flight was not quite as smooth. The landing was very bumpy and we were clearly flying through a snow storm. All announcements were spoken first in Russian and then translated into English. All... except for the announcement that came just after we started landing... and, suddenly, started climbing again. This is where Patti grabbed my hand, rather terrified. We had Gregg ask the guy across the aisle what the announcement said and we learned that it might be too dangerous to land in Yekaterinburg so we may be re-routed to Chelyabinsk about 100 miles away. Yikes!!!!!
When the plane finally touched down (with huge bumps and skids) we literally did not know what city we were in - Yekaterinburg or Chelyabinsk. Luckily we were in Yekaterinburg and all was going according to plan.
We were greeted at the airport by Katya - a very pleasant, energetic, smiling representative of the theatre (She seems to function as the company manager), and Victor, one of the conductors whom I had met in New York late last year.
They took us to the theatre - which is also our housing! They have a three room mini-hotel that is in the same building as the theatre - literally continue off stage right, across one of the ballrooms/lobbies, and you will find the rooms where Patti and I are staying. Gregg is staying in an apartment a few miles away.
Our rooms were large, VERY clean and pleasant. Basically furnished with fridge and microwave - but very comfortable. We each have a large sitting room as well as bedroom and bathroom. It must have been about 11PM local time (about 2AM NY time) and we were taken out to a wonderful traditional Russian dinner by the spirited, jovial artistic director, Kirill. I had also met him last year in New York.
None of these folks speak English beyond a few words so aside from Gregg getting us these jobs, and being a fine musician, composer and conductor, he has been beyond invaluable interpreting for us.
Here we are in the resturant. It is called the "pickle room" (russians love pickles - me too - they even introduced me to pickle-flavored potato chips for which I will be forever grateful.) Room is so-called because each of these famous paintings has a pickle in it. You can see it in the picture on the right if you look closely.
The dinner was served at a private dining club called Level 1707 - but Kirill told us the food was prepared by many "babushkas" or grandmothers - all very traditional Russian food. Here's a picture of the food. I have to admit, I didn't eat the pork-filled pasta-thingies so they made me a delicious breast of chicken with a side of potatoes. Really tasty.
There was, of course, the requisite vodka served!
But not before Patti made a snow angel in the middle of the sidewalk - much to Kirill's enjoyment!
Apparently, when Patti was working with Ann Margaret, she made Patti promise to make a snow angel at every opportunity. No one can say Patti is not a woman of her word!
At the end of the video, did you notice the "Violinist on the Roof" poster on the side of the theatre! Yes, "Fiddler On The Roof."
We entered the theatre - it is now about 2AM - and we walked through many dark hallways and ended up on a completely empty stage. It was the main theatre (they have just built a 2nd, smaller theatre - which will open later this month - more on that later.) It was a venerable space - full of character, history and theatre spirits (and perhaps a few ghosts, no doubt). I was shocked that the stage was completely empty because this is a theatre which employs over 500 people year round and rotates 26 shows at a time. Kirill explained that after every show, they completely clear out the space to prepare for the next morning's load-in of whatever show is playing. Often, there is a kids' show in the morning and regular show in the evening.
We then viewed some of the rehearsal spaces as well as the ballet room where Patti and Kirill did a little warm up at the barre!
More to come!
"Violinist on the Roof" = "Fiddler on the Roof"?
ReplyDeleteHi, Michael! You're all described in great detail. Patti is a real angel (not only snow)! Children are amazing! Accept thanks for your great work (I mean a performance) and for this wonderful blog. I bring it to my favorites. Look at leisure one of my blogs (there photos and captions in English). Hello to Greg and Patty! And to Jannet! Sincerely, Arkady Z.
ReplyDeletehttp://vijou.blogspot.com/