Misunderstood genre?
The musical industry wants to position itself more strongly
The artistic director of the Luisenburg Festival, Birgit Simmler (archive photo). photo
© Nicolas Armer/dpa
Loved by the audience, frowned upon by the features section? Expert Birgit Simmler now sees musicals in German-speaking countries as equivalent to opera, plays and ballet.
The often overlooked musical genre is in the process of positioning itself more strongly in the German theater landscape. “I see the genre as equivalent to drama, opera and dance,” said Birgit Simmler, chairwoman of the German Musical Academy industry association. Musical is a further development of opera and operetta, “it is modern, attractive musical theater”. The industry will meet from today until May 1st for the trade fair for German-language musicals at the Luisenburg in Wunsiedel, Franconia.
The production conditions in Germany is characterized by two strands – on the one hand, there are publicly funded houses divided into classic categories, and on the other hand, there are long-run productions – often from purely commercial providers.
Demand for more flexibility in public buildings
Simmler appealed to politicians not to stick to the division into ballet, opera and drama, but to allow public theaters to be set up more flexibly. They have to be open to musical theater, not just the classical canon: “We have to move.”
After all, the musical exerts a great fascination on the audience. The plot is told using various artistic means. “That is the fascination that also creates great operas,” said Simmler. However, the music is based on today’s listening habits, rock and pop. “It seems more modern than classical singing.”
In the past decades, productions were mostly purchased from the Anglo-American region. There are now also some houses in German-speaking countries with a lively musical scene. And: “The talent for writing and composing is there,” said Simmler, who is also the director of the Luisenburg Festival. The German-language musical has now reached a level of quality that doesn’t have to hide.
More well-trained actors
The selection of well-trained actors has also improved significantly compared to the 1980s and 1990s. Back then it was difficult to find good people who could sing, dance and act. “Today there are training centers that can teach this.” She is always impressed by the quality that is shown when she is looking for casts for the Luisenburg productions.
According to Simmler, the musical fair will primarily be about networking in the industry. What is particularly important to her is the exchange between publicly financed and commercial institutions.
In recent years there have been quite sensational productions on German musical stages – such as the musical “Ku’damm 56”, based on the ZDF multi-part series of the same name. Mozart’s “Magic Flute” recently celebrated its world premiere as a musical in Munich. The Broadway musical “The Lion King” by Elton John and Tim Rice has been shown in Hamburg since 2001.