What Maria King thinks of Regietheater and scolding in public
With the presentation of Maria King, a Dramatic Soprano from California, this blog continues to publish a series of profiles of young international singers who went to Germany to sing and live. Their answers to a small set of questions show what it takes to move to a foreign place, mainly to Berlin, and pursue the career of their dreams.
Your name:
Maria King
Where are you from?
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Your Fach?
Dramatic soprano
Since when in Berlin?
June 2013
Your favorite role:
Floria Tosca
What do you think of Regietheater?
Sometimes tries too hard to be edgy or shoehorn the opera into the “concept” without honoring the intentions of the original work.
Best opera production you saw in Germany:
Not in Germany, but Un Ballo in Maschera at Wiener Staatsoper
Craziest opera production you saw in Germany:
So many! Maria Stuarda at Berliner Staatsoper, Un Ballo in Maschera, also at Staatsoper
Your last performance:
Some concerts; Mother in Hänsel and Gretel
Your favorite German words:
Steckdose! Muskatnuss. Sumpfotter.*
A thing or habit of Germans you find funny:
Responding to a compliment with “I know!” For example: “Nice dress!” “I know!”
A thing or habit of Germans you find annoying: Beschimpfen (to scold, AIF) people on the street for doing wrong or illegal things.
A thing or habit of Germans you would like to see in your country, too:
A Ruhetag** in which people just chill.
Your favorite quality in a singer:
Good technical singing! (It should go without saying!)
* Steckdose stems from the verb stecken (to put something into something else) and Dose (can). It is a can where you can put something. Steckdose = power outlet. (The plug is called Stecker.) Muskatnuss = nutmeg; Sumpfotter is a compound of Sumpf (swamp) and Otter (otter). A Sumpfotter is a mink. (AIF)
** Ruhetag = day of rest, day off or holiday. (AIF)
Listen to Maria King’s singing:
https://soundcloud.com/maria-king-19
Watch Maria King singing:
https://vimeo.com/mariaking
You can see her with me tackling some German grammar in this blog’s video:
https://achichfuehls.wordpress.com/the-video-2/
