søndag den 12. juli 2015

How to perform classical music in a crazy, sexy and funny - but still touching way

In the weekend coming, I’m going to meet up again with my 3 friends and colleagues from Cabaret Fantastique. We are going to try our ideas on the floor, rehearse previous ideas, brainstorm, and have meetings about the practical stuff – like how to fundraise the money we need to make our coming theatre performance really happen.

I can’t tell in details what the show will be about, because that’s still kind of secret… But I can say, that we are using the form, the satire, the erotic atmosphere and the visual output from the old genre known as “cabaret”, and we fill it in with classical, instrumental music and songs, that has a high level of virtuosity.

We feel that the contrasts between these two styles are intriguing and add to each other.

The combination feels fresh and it suits us well: We are highly skilled in each of our crafts (actor, classical violinist, pianist and singer), but we feel that the conformity and stiffness about classical music and acting is bothering us, sometimes.

We like to do something that’s both SERIOUS and FUN - and quite CRAZY too!

The quartet consists of 4 young Danish artists: 
An actor named Frederik Ømann, educated in Århus and now working in various theatres across Denmark. 
A pianist named Janus Araghipour, educated in Poland and Danmark, now studying for a soloist diploma at Syddansk Musikkonservatorium. 
A violinist named Herbert Boersma, educated in the U.S. and in Denmark, soon to finish his soloist diploma at Jyske Musikkonservatorium. 
And of course myself, educated as opera singer in Berlin and DK, soloist diploma in 2012, now singing opera and concerts as a freelancer.

We met during my time in academy of music, and our common passion for the burlesque underground in Copenhagen brought us further more together. We simply couldn’t resist performing small shows and pieces of music at the artistic and sexy parties known as Grotesque Burlesque. Doing that, we had great fun!

This passion for burlesque inspired us to make a whole cabaret of our own.

Here we are at the burlesque party in 2012

Since we decided to make a cabaret, we have been meeting up from time to time, brainstorming and trying ideas out, searching for suited repertoire and so on. 2 times earlier we have met up for 4 days in a row in a place up North where we could explore things deeply without interruptions. Now the 3rd session is approaching. 
Our concept has changed a lot during these rehearsals and discussions - of course.

So far, we use music as different as Satie, Piazzolla and Mozart combined with absurd humor, dance, French clown mimics, glamour that is falling apart, champagne and more.

I can’t wait to do more of this! I’m sure our show will be full of surprises, be sometimes touching or even magical.
The good news are that Odense Teater’s small stage – U-Teater – is showing interest in making a co-production. That would be truly awesome! 
We hope that this could be the beginning of an adventure, where touring Europe is one of the goals.

We aim to get a young audience to experience the magic of sheer, classical music in an informal and crazy wrapping. Like this we keep a tradition alive, but also renew it.

Stay tuned for more about this project!
Here are some links to related burlesque on Youtube

Copenhagen Grotesque Burlesque party sneak peak (yes, we were there!) 

Excellent Burlesque show making satire on Americans 

 Burlesque stage makeup tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZRKNjDCYqg



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