Spotlight on Christopher White
Part of the Life of the Opera Pianist Series
General Information
Education
Royal Academy of Music, London
Opernhaus Zürich
Current opera house and position
Studienleiter (Head of Music), Deutsche Oper Berlin
Other or former affiliations
(selected) Salzburg Festival, Bayreuth Festival, English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Oper Frankfurt, Israeli Opera
11 Questions
Many people do not know the many roles and responsibilities a répétiteur has in the opera house. How do you explain your job to non-musicians, or even other musicians?
Opera has two arms, drama and music. Anything musical: that's me!
What do you find to be one of the most challenging aspects of your job?
Honestly I love every aspect of my job.
Do you have a favorite part of the preparation (rehearsal or learning an opera) process? If so, what is it and why
Cracking open a new score for the very first time, and finding my way through for the first time, is very exciting. The Sitzprobe is also a highlight: orchestra comes on the scene for the first time, we get right back to the music together.
What is your favorite opera?
Falstaff
What is your favorite opera score to play and why?
Wozzeck - been back to it several times and the layers of the piece seem endless!
For pure adrenaline nothing beats Elektra.
What are some adjectives that describe the skills one needs to be a good répétiteur?
Fearless, omnivorous, servant-hearted, level-headed, understanding, indefatigable, insatiable.
As a répétiteur, we are expected to prepare music quickly (sometimes having to sightread or transpose or play music from the orchestra full score), manage multiple opera productions at the same time, play rehearsals for last minute cast changes, conduct last minute rehearsals or performances and sometimes even sing roles in these rehearsals or performances. Do you have any advice on how to deal with the excitement of the job?
Firstly, BE excited about it! Live theatre is just that: it never sits still for a minute, and you shouldn't expect it to. I've learnt and progressed the most when I've had to make the most of of an impossible situation. This occurs often!
We also wear many hats as a répétiteur. We are often asked to assist conductors by taking notes, provide backstage conducting for performances, prompt the singers, conduct staging rehearsals, accompany chorus rehearsals, manage sound effects or major musical cues for performances, perform a keyboard instrument (or two) in the orchestra pit and give notes to singers about language and diction. Do you have a favorite aspect of the career? Have you branched out in other directions related to our field?
I love playing the piano all day, that's my bread and butter. But every part of the job is a challenge to exercise your musical intelligence in a way that benefits your colleagues and lifts up the effectual audience. Therefore I can't pick a favourite "aspect" because it's all one. Gesamtkunstwerk.
What was your first experience as a répétiteur? And your most recent experience as a répétiteur?
Tanglewood 2008, I was assigned to the opera, and felt very insulted about it! But over the course of that summer I discovered how much I love the whole form. A Great Man was in the pit, and I learned an infinite amount.
Most recent: in Berlin, conducting stage run-throughs of Oceane by Detlev Glanert, complete with full chorus and stage band!
How do you manage playing an opera (or opera aria) for the nth time?
It's new each time, it's no chore! I challenge myself to find something new…there always is!
Do you have any advice for pianists interested in a career at an opera house?
Go to the library - now - and start living in this music. Read it, play it, watch it, listen to it. Time is short, art is long!
Any additional memories, thoughts or comments?
I have often been in situations where I've thought I've blown it, I don't know anything, I shouldn't be here. This is completely normal, given the vastness of the art form we inhabit. We never stop learning, and we shouldn't want to!
Christopher White on Wikipedia
Christopher White, Deutsche Oper Berlin
Listen to an interview with Chris on the Classical Voice Training Podcast
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