Talks with Antonio Pappano and Simon Keenlyside
at CD shop, TOWER RECORDS Shibuya、Tokyo

MC: Koji Yoshida

20 Sep 2010

Antonio Pappano: Hello,

Question: (to Maestro Pappano) You've come to Japan first time with the Royal Opera.

Antonio Pappano: I came to Japan several times before but it's first time with opera company to here in Japan.

Q: Tell me the difference between hall in Europe and in Japan.

AP: I'll be very honest, I think our opera house is much prettier, but your opera house sounds much better.

Q: You have conducted at three diffrent halls in Japan already. Kanagawa Kenmin hall in Yokohama, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Ueno amd the NHK hall in Shibuya. please tell us what is you think the best?

AP: (laughing) Unfair question! The halls are very diffrent. NHK hall is very big like MET, but others more intimate, maybe public is closer to the action it helps--.

Q: It is possible to approach 'Manon' in many ways. You conducted it clearly, What is your interpretation?

AP: Manon has many different things. It's operetta, it's grand opera, Op?ra comique, melodrama, sort of homage to Baroque music, many different things, not only French beauty opera. changing atomosphere after the prelude. It's very dark. clarinet solo, power of Manon. now she is poor, much later -- opera could be Offenbach. Manon is -- You have to be ready to change the gear. big answer--

AP: It's very big opera so often many cut, but we make little cut. our manon is including ballet music.

Q: I found it, in the beginning of Act 5, there is the orchestra music played, which is 'Adieu notre petite table' its orchestra version. Is it what Maestro's idea?

AP: (Delighted) You are the only one who recognised!

Q:it's a very surprise.

AP: What we felt, because the scene change is quite big and takes long time. We need the bridge, the world of grand opera to personnel Manon. many different kind of music Massnet is music and other music, nothing is really right. When I -- incredibly simple and beautiful music to make a scene change.

Q: You have spent almost eight years as the music director of the Royal Opera. What was your innovation and what is you archieved?

AP: It's much easier to talk about the future plans. Big company, big repertoire, in 2012 Olympic comes to London, Royal Opera is important in artistic section. 2012~2013 season has several cycles. The cycles of Da Ponte. “Les Troyens”, the Ring . so we have many anniversary , Britten, Verdi, Wagner. New Parsifal, Britten's Gloriana, I vespro siciliani, the Trittico, and many other things so important [*3] soon in -- Mark-Anthony (Turnage) brand new based on Anna Nicole Smith [*1] very very new (An interpretation before go to second part)

*1 The Royal Opera will stage the world premiere next year of "Anna Nicole," a work about the life of former Playboy model, actress and tabloid favourite Anna Nicole Smith who died in 2007

AP: What I archieved is difficult to say, in present give energy to them tried participation try to opera stays live not only singing.

OK, his turn! (laughing)

Q: At first, Simon, did you find any CD your favourite? (He bought some CDs before the talk show.)

Simon Keenlyside: Yes!! (audience laughs)

Q: You are good singin and good looking, your acting is super and intellectual. What a wonderful barytone you are! Saw Papageno and Don Giovanni on DVD, you try this time rather older character, Giorgio Germont. What is your approach to this character?

SK: He is not an old man if you look so. very Bel Canto I think is very -- I like very much to mix if you maybe life to mix Germont healthy
-- big role.

Q: You are much younger.

SK: I don't think he's an old man. beautiful music I respect.

Q: and second, in La Traviata, you repeatedly take off and on your glasses.

SK: It's too much! I don't wear glasses. And I should practice little harder. It takes practice and I'm sure age will give me that practice.

Q: so you don't use them, do you?

SK: Just began to...with the small Tokyo map, I need them!(laughing)

Q: and so do you have any problem in your legs? [*2]

SK: Yeah, it really hurts. when I got on the escalator being pushed and tried not to fall on a lady, I hurt my legs.

An interpreter:(surprised) Please take care!

Q: You sang Rigoletto at Wales, with Welsh National Opera, Rigoletto is more dramatic role, so you can sing every role, expanding your repertoire, You're almighty, I think!



SK: I'm not changed, natural way on the middle of my life, it's a Joy for me.it---

Q: The last question to both. If the Royal Opera comes back again to Japan in future, which you like to perform?

AP: I can't say-- I know Italian like Verdi is important but we are British Company, but mixed -- my whole life tend to mix many different things, Handel, It's important to come to Italian for Italian Company and it's important for German Company to German Opera. We are British Company , so we have to mix everything.

Audience: Britten's 'Peter Grimes' is British.

SK: He's the boss, I'm singing.(laughing) I think I love Italian music, 19 century's Italian Opera could be better than anything. it's most interesting. That's the thing most -- I think Italian is Mountain Peaks for me.

(Applause, the end of the talk)

*2 In La Traviata, Keenlyside acted as Germont, limping heavily on his leg like Rigoletto.

*3 Related articles "ROH makes plans for London 2012"

***

* I apologize my poor English
* Sardanapalus kindly gave me some advice.
* I am grateful to Kew Gardens who told me the episode of the escalator.