The starting shot has been fired - again: Markus Zwink, the musical director and conductor of the Passion Play, has started rehearsals.
Panic about Corona?
Not at all.
Oberammergau - Markus Zwink sips his glass of water, rather he spits out a confession: "I had the same naivety in the summer as the politicians," says the musical director and conductor at the Passion. He would never have expected the force of the fourth wave. With such incidences. With renewed mind games about curfews and closings, including cultural sites. Job-related optimism - that's what the Oberammergau resident calls it. He keeps it for the rehearsals of the choir and orchestra. “I think we'll get through well,” he says about his area of responsibility with a view to the premiere in mid-May 2022. Even if it “will definitely be exciting”.
Since the end of September, individual groups have been meeting to practice.
On a voluntary basis.
The contracts take effect from All Saints' Day, so the official go-ahead was given on this day.
But well ahead of the actors who want to really get started in January.
The singers meet once a week.
At least some of them.
Only the newbies, says Zwink.
Those who would have stood on the big stage for the first time in 2020.
The musical director estimates about half of the just over 100 participants in the choir.
Of course, he orders them in groups to the Ammergau house, the small theater or the parish hall.
In any case, each voice prepares for itself in different rooms.
Youth work bears fruit
The number of singers for the 2020 Vow Game has changed since it was canceled. Participants stopped. "Maybe five," says Zwink quickly. A bearable number. Nevertheless, it had to be auditioned again in the summer. With a gratifying result. “It's great to have a few younger people with us.” The constant work with young people is bearing fruit. "With us," emphasizes Zwink, "something always follows." A statement that many a club chairman probably pale with envy.
It's a restart with strict rules.
Before each sample, everyone - including those who have been vaccinated - has to undergo a corona test.
Those responsible for the Passions introduced this requirement at the beginning of November.
Choir members and the administration help with the procedure.
"Runs well," says Zwink.
The next round is on Saturday.
Without a face mask, the singers trumpet the notes.
The 65-year-old couldn't even imagine professional work wearing a mask.
"Then I'll stop."
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Markus Zwink is the musical director.
© Neeb / Passion Play
In any case, the exercise units do not fail because of ingenuity.
The digital world is entering the rehearsals.
The soloists make video recordings while singing.
Including mistakes, so that the colleagues from the choir recognize the challenging passages.
The films can then be called up online at any time for home work.
The advantage over a live switch: rewinding is possible.
Zwink grins happily and says: "You just have to know how to help yourself."
First stop at the orchestra
The orchestra - there are over 100 musicians in total - has also tried to start rehearsing.
In smaller groups of six or seven people.
A more difficult birth.
Because of the wind players and especially because of the higher number of older age groups.
“They say it's too hot for them at the moment.” Which Zwink understands, of course.
So he put the brakes on for the time being and will be back to work in a few weeks.
Corona determines the preparations.
The 65-year-old makes no secret of the fact that he is worried.
For example, in terms of the narrowness behind the scenes.
To keep the necessary distance there?
Hardly possible.
He makes it clear with an example: Twelve tenors share a cloakroom of no more than ten square meters.
“We were already thinking about containers,” reveals Zwink.
We can go up explosively.
Markus Zwink
At the moment the 3G rule officially applies, supplemented by the self-imposed test strategy.
The 2G variants were also already an issue.
How one would proceed with this has not yet been decided, says Zwink: But one thing is certain: “We have always announced that we are driving on sight.” The participants should therefore regularly check their accounts in order to receive information about changes.
"In the contract, everything is formulated in such a way that one adapts to the circumstances."
Of course, Zwink would have preferred to have known the Passion in calmer waters.
He admits that Florian Streibl, leader of the Free Voters faction in the state parliament, has so far "been right with his prognoses".
At the time, the politician from Oberammergau recommended that the world-famous event be postponed to 2024.
"In retrospect," says the former music teacher at the Ettaler Benedictine high school, "you are gscheider."
However, Zwink retains his optimism.
“We are now using the time,” he says.
He doesn't get nervous immediately if the pandemic causes delays in the process.
When the going gets tough, it would be enough for the 65-year-old and his team to start the big rehearsals in March.
"We can run up explosively."
