I Want It All

Nichts oder Alles à la Knef (Nothing Or All à la Knef) – a scenic concert - Hamburger Sprechwerk, Hamburg 24th January 2012

Performers: Alma Gildenast, Maika Viehstädt

Musicians: Marielena Huber, Leon-Silas Gärtner

I only found out about this accidently as it was mentioned in the latest Jahrmarkttheater newsletter starring two young beautiful and especially talented ladies who have been cast in their shows for a few years.

With only three shows scheduled this week and me not being able to go to the other two I “had to” go to the premiere on Tuesday.

I had not been too keen going to the premiere as I had expected colleagues of the two being there which was the case – as one fantastic director/lyricist of shows I love next to me and a male performer I highly admire behind me amongst them. Oops.

One sad thing was that it was rather empty. The place is already small, I’d say around 100 seats and it was only half full and I had the impression I was one of the very few people not personally known to one of the four people onstage. Not that I mind that (and no, just because I go to the theatre on my own means am lonely or something... I actually enjoy going on my own as much as with others as I can focus on the show a lot better IMO).



http://www.hamburgersprechwerk.de/

 But once the show started I had forgotten about all that and just enjoyed this wonderful performance. Being anything but familiar with Hildegard Knef, the only song really I know properly being obviously "Für Mich Soll's Rote Rosen Regnen" ("Red Roses Are To Rain For Me" - I imagine this must actually hurt ;-) ) it was interesting to learn more about the La Knef's repertoire and to see this being anything but an ordinary cabaret concert what you normally get to see.

All songs were interpreted in scenes (as the second part of the title already indicated) which were done very, well let’s say, experimentally.

When the curtain opened you just saw the two musicians sitting at the back on the left hand side. One metal frame looking like a football goal without the net and two gigantic metal triangles, one on each side hanging from the ceiling with all elements bound by red ropes but once Maika and Alma appeared on stage with a trolley (you must wonder where they got that from ;-) ) full with stuff as more red rope, chairs, sandwiches, water bottle, dozens of pegs etc. it got rather "crowded" onstage.

All this stuff was used one after the other in the various scenes. The red rope was wrapped around and across the stage and even spread out into the front row(s) later in the show and the other stuff, even the sandwiches were pegged out on this rope. It was hilarious to watch.

But what of course was more amazing was the incredible interpretation of most of the songs performed with so much detail, creativity, imagination and inventiveness that it was a delight to watch this.

Each scene was part of the whole show flowing wonderfully but the odd larger break but were also mini short stories on its own dealing with the ideas of the songs, the philosophy behind them and La Knef's attitude to life.

My personal highlights were “Ich Möchte Mich Gern Von Mir Trennen” (I Would Like To Split Up With Myself”) performed while reading with Maika starting this off looking up from a newspaper she is apparently reading and "Noch Einen Drink Auf Die Liebe" (Just Another Drink To Love) based in a bar being most enjoyable for me but also all the other numbers were wonderfully performed with especially Maika showing off her perfect comic timing I had the pleasure to witness already a few times but Alma's talent is nothing short of Maika's. I am actually still soo absorbed and grabbed by the sheer enthralling expressions.

Vocally the two having clear light voices (sounding despite microports occasionally a bit too quiet when the music got louder, only minor issue I had) unlike the smoky and deep Hildegard Knef they were rather unbound from the original which worked so well giving some of the rather sentimental and rather ironic lyrics more uplift and zest.

The altered orchestrations played impressively by Marielena Huber, Leon-Silas Gärtner using various instruments throughout the shows supported this also very well.

Overall: An amazing evening out which deserves a bigger audience - I can only hope it will have this but yes, at least I am clearly ready now to live life with all its facettes. ;-)

There are just two more shows at the Hamburger Sprechwerk today and tomorrow (25th and 26th January, 2012) at 8pm.