School of the Arts' Andrei Serban and Niky Wolcz Debut at Metropolitan

C olumbia U niversity RECORD December 1, 2003 3 School of the Arts’ Andrei Serban and Niky Wolcz Debut at Metropolitan Opera stage in an opera for the first that in opera the costumes and sets BY KRISTIN STERLING time,” he says, referring to the are done well in advance of the masked performance having roots production. In theater, where there As classmates in elementary in the ancient roman theater and is less money, more imagination is school in Romania, Andrei Serban invented in the Renaissance. “In needed. and Niky Wolcz dreamed about the third act, we feel that Berlioz’s “The working conditions at the their futures together in the the- own presence is filtered through Met are exceptional,” says Wolcz. ater. That seemed unlikely to the voice of his alter-ego Cellini. “The departments are very profes- materialize when Serban moved Here the artist must defend his sional and you are given so many to the United States to work at artistic vitality in an age of puri- opportunities.” LaMama Theater in New York’s tanical censorship. Cellini must Perhaps the greatest difference East Village, and Wolcz moved to create a piece on command, under is that in theater, the director casts Germany to teach, direct and act. the watchful eye of the Pope. As the actors; but in opera, the con- Despite the distance from one Cellini’s statue Perseus comes to ductor makes the selections. another they kept their dreams life in front of the audience, you Serban explains that this can be a alive working together on nearly feel the triumph of art and the challenge to the director because 15 projects in theater and opera entire opera becomes a lyrical “sometimes you get stuck with an throughout Europe over the past inquiry into the mystery of cre- extra-large, middle-aged Juliet. 20 years. Today both are in New ation,” says Serban. Still the melody makes you fall in York teaching theatre arts in The statue used in the produc- love.” Last spring Serban worked PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA Columbia’s School of the Arts and tion is a replica of Cellini’s with Marcello Giordani, who per- making their debut at Metropoli- Perseus, which still stands in Flo- forms the title role of Cellini, in Serban and Wolcz are working with more than 200 performers in the tan Opera, in tandem. rence’s Loggia dei Lanzi. Verdi’s “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” production. Above, a scene from the rehearsal. With Serban as director and Opera is both different from at the Paris Opera and they Wolcz as choreographer, they will and similar to theater. Serban became friends. intensely trained by Niky, who is Lincoln Center. He has worked bring to life for the first time at the explains that “Both tell human There are more than 200 per- a master in commedia and he extensively with Ellen Stewart’s Met, Hector Berlioz’ “Benvenuto stories, except in opera the only formers in the production, includ- taught them advanced skills,” LaMama Theatre, the Public The- Cellini,” which premieres on Dec. way to communicate is by ing actors, dancers, mimes, acro- says Serban. “This is a great atre, and Robert Burstein’s “ART.” 4. This production is one of the singing, and it has its advantages bats and singers. While Serban opportunity to make the Colum- In terms of opera, he has direct- highlights of the Metropolitan –music is what we all wish to and Wolcz did not select the bia acting program known at the ed at the Paris, Geneva, Vienna, Opera’s two-season-long com- feel—and disadvantages—limita- singers, they did have the oppor- Met.” Zurich and Bologna Opera Hous- memoration of the 200th anniver- tions of how much singers can do, tunity to bring 15 alumni from the “This is my fifth collaboration es, as well as the Chicago, San sary of the birth of Berlioz. whereas actors are more sponta- School of the Arts acting division with Andrei and Niky and it is an Francisco, Los Angeles operas, to “Berlioz’s music is rich and neous.” to work at the Met. incredible opportunity to perform name a few. In the spring, he will powerful, and so advanced for his In practical terms, Wolcz notes “These actors were very at the Met,” says George Drance, direct the opera “Othello” in Paris, time,” says Serban. “I am glad that SOA ’98. “Working in a setting at Bastille. James Levine, artistic director and like this I can see how the training Wolcz is an actor, director and conductor of the opera, is equally we had at Columbia has really teacher who has worked in New passionate. One should enjoy encouraged us and prepared us to York, Germany and Switzerland. every minute. After the Met, it is ‘jump in.’ It feels like the School He has taught acting in Frankfurt, hard to reach higher. This is the of the Arts group shares a com- Dusseldorf, Bern, Limoges and top of the opera world.” mon language and can respond to Bucharest and directs workshops In “Benvenuto Cellini,” Berlioz Niky and Andrei’s leads quickly. on a wide variety of topics. In the tells the story of a 16th-century When I first began the program, I spring, he is directing “Twelfth sculptor with the title name. was warned that we were being Night” together with SOA profes- According to Serban, it is the story trained for a theatre that does not sor Kristin Linklater. The project of a reckless, genius artist who yet exist. Perhaps through experi- was selected for an international lives his life as a rebel, falls in ences like this we can begin to European festival in Dusseldorf, love with the daughter of the bring it into existence.” Germany. finance minister, and is commis- Serban strives to do just that. Serban and Wolcz have come a sioned by the Pope to create a stat- He is renowned in the United long way from their childhood ue of Perseus. The climax of the States and throughout Europe, home in Romania, winning acco- opera occurs in the second act car- working on the world’s most pres- lades and breaking new ground in nival scene. tigious stages, winning interna- their respective theatrical disci- “It is a magnificently composed Cellini is commissioned by the Pope to create a statue of Perseus. tional awards, including several plines. And today, they are finally act, where the commedia—as a This statute is a replica of the real Cellini’s Perseus, which still Obies and a Tony for Chekhov's fulfilling their lifelong dream of play within a play—gets center stands in Florence’s Loggia dei Lanzi. “The Cherry Orchard” at the working together at the Met. James Jordan Named President and Director of Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina Joins Columbia University Press Barnard as Director of Pan- James D. Jordan, Director of experience in many areas of pub- African Studies Program lishing and his superb record of the Johns Hopkins University Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, success at Johns Hopkins make Press since 1998, will join the author of Black London, The him an ideal person to lead the Columbia University Press as New York Times Notable Book Press into a future filled with president and director in mid- on the black population of 18th both opportunities and chal- January, 2004. century Britain, and host of a lenges." Jim Jordan began his publish- nationally syndicated radio show “I’m delighted to return to ing career at W. W. Norton in “The Book Show” has joined the New York, where I have always 1973, where he served more than faculty of Barnard College from lived in the shadow of this great 21 years as an Editor in the life Vassar College. Gerzina will university, and to be able to play and information sciences, Mar- direct Barnard’s Pan-African a formative role in the future of keting Director, Director of the Studies Program and as professor one of the oldest and most distin- College Division, Head of the of English teach African-Ameri- Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina guished university presses in Norton Medical Books program can literature. North America. The support of and member of the Board of “My goal is to develop a women in South Africa.” President Bollinger, Provost Directors. strong curriculum for the Pan- In addition to strengthening the Brinkley, and the Columbia Under Mr. Jordan’s direction, James Jordan African Studies Program in order curriculum, Gerzina promises to Board of Trustees for their Press the Johns Hopkins University to make it one of the best of its bring African-American scholars, is a resounding statement of com- Press has been a recipient of international affairs, literature in kind in a liberal arts college,” writers, and other noted black mitment to scholarly publishing many awards for publishing translation, history, religion, said Gerzina. intellectuals to campus as part of as an indispensable activity of a excellence, including the Ameri- anthropology, social work, Asian Gerzina said that several new a new lecture series. world-class university. I’m grate- can Association of Publisher's studies, and other subject areas. majors in Pan-African Studies Gerzina is the recipient of two ful to be asked to contribute to R.R. Hawkins award for the out- The Press is also known for its have already been added this fall. grants from the National Founda- the outstanding academic pub- standing academic book of the successful pioneering program in “It is great to work with an amaz- tion for the Humanities, and has lishing that this support will year.

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