The project ‘Theatrical Window to Europe”: for those who are studying the art of opera

In the framework of the project “Theatrical Window to Europe” the German director Christian Papke is coming to Ukraine on October 3-6. He’ll conduct master-classes for the students of opera departments in conservatories in Kharkov and Dnieper.

The topic of the training is the combination of solo arias with the onstage action. 12 students has been selected for the classes in both cities, most of them study in their third or fourth years.

The project will take place in the framework of the Days of German Culture in Ukraine. It is supported by the Nuremberg House in Kharkov and by the Consulate General of Germany in Dnieper.

“We met Christian a few years ago. We were impressed by his energy and openness towards Eastern Europe. This young director, the curator of two festivals in Germany and Austria, is very proactive. He puts on stage dramatic and operatic performances around the world. We are happy that he has responded to the idea to organize master-classes for students of opera departments in the framework of our program. We’d been considering this idea for quite a long time, because we believe that in some aspects the art of opera in Ukraine looks pretty archaic in contrast to European background. We hope that the master-classes will give students the opportunity to learn the practical tools that are used in the European theatres”, – said the producer of “Theatre na Zhukah” and the curator of the programme “The Theatrical Window to Europe” Dmitro Ternovyj

“Theatre na Zhukah” initiated the programme “Theatrical Window to Europe” in 2010. Its main idea is to entwine the Ukrainian theatre in the European theatrical context. It is aimed at the students of theatre institutes of higher education and gives them the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills. They have practical sessions with masters of different theatre schools. Theatre institutes from Kharkov, Kyiv, Lvov, Dnieper, Nikolayev are involved in this program. Earlier the projects were implemented with the Polish theatres (Grotowski’s and Stanevsky’s schools), the French theatre (Commedia dell’arte), Georgian theatre (Georgian dance), English theatre (documentary theatre) and German theatre (musical theatre).