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Caspar Neher „Wie War Galilei?“

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Caspar Neher „Wie War Galilei?“ Caspar Neher „Wie war Galilei?“ SONDERKATALOG Eberhard Köstler Autographen & Bücher Februar 2021 Briefe an Rolf Badenhausen Caspar Neher gilt als einer der bedeutendsten Bühnenbildner des 20. Jahrhunderts. Sein Augsburger Klassenkamerad, Freund und Wegbegleiter Bertolt Brecht nannte ihn den „größten Bühnenbauer unserer Zeit“. Neher schuf keine Büh- nenbilder im herkömmlichen Sinne, er baute Bühnenwelten, erfand die sogenannte „Brecht-Gardine“ und legte mit seinen Entwürfen den Grundstein für das moderne Theater der Ge- genwart. Seine Briefe an Rolf Badenhausen zeichnen ein Stück Theater- geschichte. Sie geben Einblick in Nehers künstlerisches Selbst- verständnis, die kreative Welt des Bühnenbildners und die Vielzahl von Inszenierungen, denen er seine Handschrift lieh – von Brecht bis Gustaf Gründgens, von den großen Theatern in Berlin, Zürich, Wien, München, Düsseldorf und Hamburg bis zu den Salzburger Festspielen. Rolf Badenhausen, in erster Ehe verheiratet mit der Schauspie- lerin Elisabeth Flickenschildt, war Gustaf Gründgens‘ persön- licher Assistent. Nach 1945 lehrte er zunächst Theaterge- schichte an der Universität München. 1947 wurde er Chefdra- maturg und stellvertretender Generalintendant am Düsseldor- fer Schauspielhaus unter Gründgens; 1951 berief dieser ihn zu- sätzlich zum Schauspieldirektor. Später war Badenhausen Pro- fessor für Theaterwissenschaft an der Universität Köln und Leiter des dortigen Theatermuseums. 1960 kuratierte er die erste große Caspar-Neher-Ausstellung im Kölner Wallraf- Richartz-Museum. Gesamtpreis bis Ende Februar 2021 3500 Euro Danach gelten die genannten Einzelpreise "Über Manches liesse sich hier mit vollem Recht herziehen" 1 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Brief mit U. "Caspar Neher". Berlin-Zehlendorf, 15. XII. 1952. 4°. 1 Seite, mit gedrucktem Briefkopf. Dazu ein Gegen- brief (Typoskript-Durchschlag) von Rolf Badenhausen vom 17. XII. 1952. Fol. 1 Seite. 250,– An den Dramaturgen und Theaterwissenschaftler Rolf Badenhausen (1907-1987), über die Situation im Berliner Ensemble und sein dama- liges Verhältnis zu Bertolt Brecht: "[...] Vielen Dank für Ihre ausge- zeichneten Programmhefte. Leider hatten wir uns hier nicht mehr ge- troffen, was ich sehr bedauerte, da doch eine kleine Aussprache not- wendig gewesen wäre. Über Manches liesse sich hier mit vollem Recht herziehen, das meiste ist zu verurteilen. Und Manches mal fragt man sich welchen tieferen Sinn es hat hier zu bleiben. Jedoch das soll nicht der Grund sein, der letztlich darin liegt Ihnen für das kommende Fest und die Wende der Jahre [...]". - Neher arbeitete zusammen mit Brecht und Weigel an diversen Inszenierungen, aber die Situation wurde für ihn zunehmend unbefriedigender: "Neher arrives in Berlin from Italy, to hear from Hainer Hill that Brecht has been railing against those members of the Ensemble who refused to live in East Berlin. In the 25th [September] he drafts a letter to Brecht explaining that he has been advised by Hilbert of the Austrian Ministry of Edu- cation to stop working in East Berlin altogether, since this is now re- garded as 'political activity' [...]. He asks Brecht to understand this 'abominable situation'" (Willet). - Seit November 1952 hatten Brecht und Neher dann vorerst wohl keinen Kontakt mehr zueinander. - Vgl. John Willet. Caspar Neher. Brecht’s designer. London 1986, S. 129. - Gelocht. Herrenhaus 2 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Brief mit U. "Caspar Neher". Berlin-Zehlendorf, 22. IX. 1953. 4°. 1 Seite. Dazu 2 Gegenbriefe (Typoskript-Durchschläge) von Rolf Badenhausen vom 21. IX. und 25. IX. 1953. Fol. 2 Seiten. 220,– An den Dramaturgen und Theaterwissenschaftler Rolf Badenhausen (1907-1987), über eine Rezension von "Herrenhaus": "[...] Vielen Dank für die Übersendung des neuen Buches. Es ist schon angeneh- mer so gedruckt lesen zu können. Wann glauben Sie werden die ersten Besprechungen stattfinden können? [...] Grüssen Sie bitten Intendant Gründgens, haben Sie wegen Monk gesprochen? [...]". - In den Ge- genbriefen geht es um den richtigen Zeitpunkt für die Besprechung, die Premiere von "Wallenstein" in Düsseldorf und eine mögliche Zu- sammenarbeit mit Egon Monk. - "Herrenhaus" wurde am 29. IX., "Wallensteins Tod" am 12. IX. 1953 an den Städtischen Bühnen Düs- seldorf uraufgeführt, Bühnenbild in beiden Inszenierungen: Caspar Neher. - Der Schauspieler, Regisseur und Dramaturg Egon Monk (1927-2007) verließ 1953 Ostberlin und das Berliner Ensemble. - Vgl. 1 Henning Rischbieter (Hrsg.), Gründgens. Schauspieler, Regisseur, Theaterleiter. Hannover 1963. - Gelocht. Nach München 3 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Brief mit U. "Caspar Neher". Berlin, 9. XI. 1953. Fol. 1 Seite. Dazu ein Gegenbrief (Typoskript-Durchschlag) von Rolf Ba- denhausen vom 16. XI. 1953. Fol. 1 Seite. 220,– An den Dramaturgen und Theaterwissenschaftler Rolf Badenhausen (1907-1987): "[...] Meine sehr anstrengende Reise ist jetzt zu Ende. Es gäbe vieles zu berichten. Was ist mit München. Aller Voraussicht nach, schliesse ich, wenn gewisse Punkte berücksichtigt werden dort ab. Da Schweikart nach Düsseldorf kommt, wäre es gut, wenn auch Sie mit ihm sprechen würden. Die technische Probe bitte ich erst am 22/23 anzusetzen, damit ich hier etwas zu Atem komme [...]". - Im Mai 1954 unterzeichnete Neher einen 3-Jahres-Vertrag an den Mün- chener Kammerspielen, wo Hans Schweikart (1895-1975) als Inten- dant bis 1963 tätig war. Ende November inszenierte Gustaf Gründgens (1899-1963) an den Städtischen Bühnen Düsseldorf "Her- renhaus" von Thomas Wolfe, Bühnenbild: Caspar Neher. - Vgl. Hen- ning Rischbieter (Hrsg.), Gründgens. Schauspieler, Regisseur, Thea- terleiter. Hannover 1963; John Willet, Caspar Neher. Brecht’s desig- ner. London 1986, S. 129. - Gelocht. 2 "Nun hat ja der Meister seine grosse Ehrung" 4 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Brief mit U. "Caspar Neher". Berlin-Zehlendorf, 7. XII. 1953. 4°. 1 Seite, mit gedrucktem Briefkopf. Dazu ein Gegenbrief (Typoskript-Durchschlag) von Rolf Badenhausen vom 7. XII. 1953. Fol. 1 Seite. 250,– An den Dramaturgen und Theaterwissenschaftler Rolf Badenhausen (1907-1987), über Gustaf Gründgens: "[...] Haben Sie etwas Ruhe jetzt, es ist wirklich nach dem Trubel der letzten Tage äusserst not- wendig. Nun hat ja der Meister seine grosse Ehrung, zu der ich ihm herzlichst gratuliere. Der letzte Tag abends hat mich sehr geärgert, wo man versuchte das Stück zu zerreden, was immer falsch ist. Leider ha- be ich sehr wenig Presse gelesen, und diese war unterschiedlich. Wie geht es Ihnen? Denken Sie an die Skizzen, und an sich. Über die Technik würde manches gesprochen werden. Später in ruhigeren Ta- gen [...]". - 1953 spielte Gustaf Gründgens in Düsseldorf in Thomas Wolfes "Herrenhaus", Caspar Neher gestaltete das Bühnenbild. Im Dezember des Jahres verlieh der damalige Bundespräsident Theodor Heuss Gründgens das Bundesverdienstkreuz. - Vgl. Henning Risch- bieter (Hrsg.), Gründgens. Schauspieler, Regisseur, Theaterleiter. Hannover 1963. - Gelocht. Herrenhaus 5 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Postkarte mit U. "Caspar Neher". Berlin, 21. XII. 1953. 10 x 16 cm. 1 Seite. 180,– An den Dramaturgen und Theaterwissenschaftler Rolf Badenhausen (1907-1987): "[...] München ist hinter uns, ich glaube ich habe Recht, dass das Stück nicht so viel her gibt, wie man glaubte. Leider habe ich die Skizzen v. Herrenhaus noch nicht bekommen. Glauben Sie, diese seien verloren gegangen? Wann kommen Sie nach Berlin? [...]". - 1953 spielte Gustaf Gründgens in Düsseldorf in Thomas Wolfes "Herren- haus", Caspar Neher gestaltete das Bühnenbild. - Vgl. Henning Rischbieter (Hrsg.), Gründgens. Schauspieler, Regisseur, Theaterlei- ter. Hannover 1963. - Gelocht. "Ohne Zweifel ist Dürrenmatt sehr begabt" 6 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Brief mit U. "Caspar Neher". Berlin-Zehlendorf, 13. I. 1954. Fol. 1 Seite. Dazu ein Gegenbrief (Typoskript-Durchschlag) von Rolf Badenhausen vom 23. XII. 1953. Fol. 1 Seite. 350,– Interessanter Brief den Dramaturgen und Theaterwissenschaftler Rolf Badenhausen (1907-1987), über die Premiere von Dürrenmatts "Ein Engel kommt nach Babylon": "[...] Die Skizzenhefte habe ich dankend erhalten. Leider stellte ich fest, daß Sie es verschmähten eine Skizze anzunehmen, was ich sehr bedaure. Nun werden Sie auch den Engel aus Babylon hinter sich haben. Ohne Zweifel ist Dürrenmatt 3 sehr begabt, ja sogar ein Dichter, wie weit er aber eine Fabel durchhal- ten kann ist sehr fraglich - der letzte Akt rutschte in München kläglich ab. Schon im zweiten begann er mit den sogenannten Makamen. Ich glaube, wenn man Gesänge, Songs oder Lieder oder Makamen be- nützte so würden sie im ganzen Stück verteilt sein. Sie müssten dann als Aussage des ganzen Stückes gelten so war der erste Akt ein Stück für sich, der zweite und der dritte. Es würde mich sehr interessieren, was Sie für einen Eindruck haben; das ist nicht Neugier, sondern 'Wissensdurst'. Hoffentlich haben Sie jetzt endlich Ihre Ruhe und Sie können zu den Plänen streifen, die Ihnen am Herzen sind. Ich denke oft über die intensiven aber schönen Tage in Düsseldorf nach [...]". - Friedrich Dürrenmatts Theaterstück "Ein Engel kommt nach Baby- lon" hatte am 22. Dezember 1953 in den Münchner Kammerspielen Premiere (Regie: Hans Schweikart, Bühnenbild: Caspar Neher). In Düsseldorf wurde das Stück erstmals am 9. Januar 1953 aufgeführt. - Gelocht. 4 "Faust II" für Gründgens und "Hamlet" in München 7 Neher, Caspar, Bühnenbildner (1897-1962). Eigenh. Brief mit U. "Caspar Neher".
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