A dispute about how to deal with the corona protective measures has broken out at the Dresden Semperoper. Chief conductor Christian Thielemann had accused director Peter Theiler in an interview of obstructing his work. Theiler reacted clearly and spoke of “complete misrepresentation and lack of insight”.
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Thielemann criticizes Theiler’s Corona protective measures
With the enactment of the new protection ordinance after the steadily increasing number of infections, Peter Theiler Christian Thielemann pointed out that rehearsals with 100 musicians on stage are not advisable and that it is better to limit oneself to a smaller project, he told the German Press Agency. Since Theiler encountered incomprehension with his colleague with this decision, but reason must take precedence over emotional impatience, he felt it was his duty to cancel the rehearsals. According to a report in the “Dresdner Neuesten Nachrichten”, chief conductor Thielemann reacted with indignation: “You will not believe how disappointed I am that an orchestra like the Staatskapelle is not allowed to play and that there has been no more effort in our house, to make something possible. ” Orchestra board member Holger Grohs also sharply criticizes the measures taken by Theiler in dealing with the corona pandemic: “A director should enable culture within the framework of these requirements, not prevent it.”
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Accusing the director of art disability in view of the alarming corona incidence figures is actually an insult.
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In response to the statements by Thielemann and Grohs, Peter Theiler found clear words: “To accuse the director of art disability in view of the alarming Corona incidence figures is actually an insult.” He justifies his decision to cancel the rehearsals with his duty of care for all employees of the house: “In an opera house, many people from many different trades have to work together. The risk of infection is high.” That is why Theiler pleads in this debate for more awareness of reality, even if he himself wants all the artists back on stage and in the orchestra pit as quickly as possible. Theiler considers the assumption that art could break due to exposed rehearsals to be exaggerated and emphasizes: “Everyone wants to play, everyone wants to dance, everyone wants to sing. Everyone wants to realize their visions, including the director.”
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Musicians complain
Five musicians of the Staatskapelle wanted to sue the labor court in Dresden for their right to work by means of an injunction. The court dismissed the complaint. The appeal hearing at the Chemnitz Regional Labor Court is scheduled for March 31.
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