BravoPortrait of João and Interview by Athena Azevedo Introduction by Helen Beltrame-Linné Makeup by Leo de Brasilia

There seems to be a strong (and somehow enigmatic) connection between Brazil and . It was the São Paulo Film Festival in 1954 that granted XLI7[IHMWLHMVIGXSVLMWÁVWXMRXIVREXMSREPE[EVHJSVSawdust and Tinsel. Other countries would soon catch up and show their recognition for Bergman’s singular and exceptional talent, but tropical Brazil remains a niche for admirers of Bergman’s vast and growing years.

João MacDowell’s ambitious adaptation of is a clear example SJSRI&VE^MPMER¸WHIZSXMSRXSXLIKVIEX7[IHMWLQEWXIV%JXIVLMWÁVWXI\TIVMIRGI with in 2014, MacDowell now takes the Brazilian Opera one step deeper into the Bergman world, turning The Seventh Seal into a GSRXIQTSVEV]STIVE7M\X]]IEVWEJXIVXLIVIPIEWISJXLIÁPQXLI&VE^MPMER GSQTSWIVLEWJSPPS[IHXLIGPYIWXLEXERI\XVIQIP]QYWMGMRÂYIRGIH-RKQEV &IVKQERPIJXIQFIHHIHMRFSXLWGVMTXERHÁPQERHXVERWPEXIHXLMWMGSRSJ contemporary culture into a fresh format, which will attract new audiences to Bergman’s work.

83 84 João MacDowell’s vision Det sjunde inseglet ©1957 AB of opera is the art form Svensk Filmindustri Still photography: Louis Huch of the future. The Seventh SealMW.SES¸WÁJXLSTIVE and second Bergman- MRWTMVIHSTIVEXLIÁVWX being Cries and Whispers. .SnSÁVWX[EXGLIH &IVKQER¸WÁPQWEWEGLMPH spending afternoons in the MRXIVREXMSREPÁPQLSYWI within walking distance of his family home.

Ingmar Bergman is 7[IHIR¸WQSWXMRÂYIRXMEP ÁPQQEOIV,MWJEGIIZIR graces the $20 krona. He HMVIGXIHSZIVWM\X]ÁPQW and documentaries for cinematic release and for television, most of which he also wrote. He also directed over 170 plays. Most of his ÁPQW[IVIWIXMR7[IHIR ERHRYQIVSYWÁPQWJVSQ Through a Glass Darkly  SR[EVH[IVIÁPQIH on the island of Fårö. Athena Azevedo: In The Seventh Seal jokes planted here and there. The story -[EWXLIVI-ÁRMWLIHGSQTSWMRKXLISTIVE had immigrated to Brazil and taught a AA: Following in Bergman’s footsteps is such as Bengt Gomér, who has been Bergman explores the role of the artist makes sense because we have a troop of Cries and Whispers. In the following year, generation of professionals, while also quite the challenge. How do you manage it? working closely with me as a dramaturge through the actor and musician Jof. How EGXSVW[LSQEREKIXSÁRHLYQSVERH I presented an instrumental based on the bringing attention to the achievements of and Sophie Sorenson, who has been do you relate to this character? dance even in the darkest of times. Human opera at the opening ceremony of Bergman 7[IHMWLÁPQEVX3JGSYVWIMXMWERLSRSV JM: It is a very humbling experience. There fundamental both in helping edit prosody society needs people like us. At dark and week. That was a very special moment for and a great challenge to be working with is the risk of being paralyzed by admiration and coaching the singers in the Swedish João MacDowell: Jof is the clown. He fearful times, like the ones we live in, me. During the same summer I also started the text of a writer who is of Shakespearean for this great sensitive artist who was so pronunciation. Some of the changes that is also the visionary, the songwriter, the where thoughts of doom prevail in our writing the music for The Seventh Seal. importance, certainly one of the greatest MRÂYIRXMEPXSQIMRQ]JSVQEXMZI]IEVW8LI we made were necessary in the adaptation, poet. He and his wife Mia portray the subconscious minds, that’s when it’s most dramaturges of the 20th century. Part of the only way to get the work done is to leave always trying to keep in mind that a loyalty troop of starving actors on the road. They important for us to have art. It’s a measure AA: You are the artistic director of the challenge was studying the language and all of that false sense of self-importance to the spirit of the drama should be more seem to represent Bergman’s hope in of the greatness of the spirit in all of us International Brazilian Opera Company listening to the music of it so that I could behind and at the same time let the drama important than to literal elements of the the face of death and despair. These poor performers, no matter how small. -&3' [LMGLMWXLITVSHYGMRKRSRTVSÁX ÁRHQIPSHMIWXLEXQEHIWIRWI[MXLXLI and the story guide me. In many ways form. traveling performers are present in many for The Seventh Seal opera. It seems so original text. this may be the best music that I have SJ&IVKQER¸WÁPQW-RQER][E]WXLEXMW AA: Twice you stayed on Bergman’s estate funny that a Brazilian composer and a [VMXXIRWSJEVERH]IXWXMPPXLIQSWXÂYIRX Bergman’s generous personality opens the XLIPMJISJEPPSJYWEVXMWXWLSTMRKXSÁRH on the far-off and rugged island of Fårö, in Brazilian focused opera company would AA: What is the long-term vision for The and easy work that I have written for the door. He has this vulnerable courage to redemption in the moment of communion. the Baltic Sea. Not even the Swedish are champion an operatic adaptation of this Seventh Seal opera? operatic stage. It is as if Bergman's hand deal with the greatest themes, at the same The Seventh SealMWXLIÁPQXLEXMW privy to this kind of access. What was it like 7[IHMWLÁPQ;LEXMWXLIGSRRIGXMSR is always guiding me, I just need to listen time exposing the frailty of our existence usually described as a very dark serious and what did you work on there? between Sweden and Brazil? JM: It is a grand opera in scale, even though and the comedy of our anxieties. Humor we have designed it to make the most very carefully and follow his lead. The philosophical parable of apocalyptic quality of his writing is unbelievable. The plays a big part in it. Not the open slapstick dimensions. For me, it was interesting to JM: The artistic residencies at Bergman’s JM: There is a cultural tie between these use of an orchestra and cast of modest kind of humor, but a more subtle one, as estate on the island of Fårö in the Baltic two distant countries. There are many size. I hope the Opera goes on to tour hardest part is leaving elements out, there's ÁRHXLEXXLIPSRKIV-WTIRX[MXLXLIXI\X always something that I wish I could use MREGGITXMRKXLIJEGXXLEXXLIVIMWRSµÁREP and as I became very intimate with each have been a very spiritual experience Brazilians working with the Bergman legacy many countries and becomes part of the truth”, and living with the humor that SJEJÁVQEXMSRSRXLIEVXMWX¸WTEXL-X in Sweden. Brazil is also the country that repertoire. We are currently negotiating but due to limitations of the format with frame of the narrative, Bergman’s story the music there's a lot of great lines that I reveals Beauty in the uncertainty. became more and more a comedy to me. was validation from a spiritual master, licenses the most of Bergman’s work for premieres in Brazil and New York for 2018, and transformation on a deep level, as theatrical productions‒it is a mysterious as part of the Ingmar Bergman centennial just need to choose and in that moment it -GERWIIXLIÁPQQEOIVERHXLIGVI[ becomes a melodic choice. I have been very having fun doing it. I see the little private if reaching to the depths of my own connection. Some explain it by the fact celebrations. I\TVIWWMSREWEREVXMWX-RXLIÁVWXWYQQIV XLEX7[IHMWLÁPQQEOIVWMRXLI¸W lucky to have some amazing collaborators

Det sjunde inseglet ©1957 AB Svensk Filmindustri Still photography: Louis Huch