BALUARTE BACKSTAGE

At patrimonio para jóvenes we have never worked before with scenic arts, but with the representation of the opera La Traviata, (Verdi) in the congress center “Baluarte” gives us the opportunity to do so for first time.

What do young people usually think about opera? Perhaps something tantalizingly boring, with very well off, boring people who pay a lot of money to the singers, and musicians, also fat, rich boring and educated. So what if the theatre offered young people advantages when buying  tickets for the opera? Is it just a way to trick them?

So, in order to discover the opera, I asked the manager of Baluarte Javier Lancuza, to receive us, and he kindly agreed. 

HERE WE ARE ON THE STAGE

We were attended by Javier himself and Nacho who very kindly administered the tour. We saw the scenery, the great height of the ceilings… We were surprised with the “design of lights”. Every scene, explained Nacho, includes bulbs with higher or lesser intensity. Going up and down means "to put strokes on the decorated scenery", that can give the spectator a very pleasant sensation or a great shock. The color filter affects the clothing so the lighting director is obligated keep both the material of the costumes and scenery in mind. Now, at Baluarte, explained Nacho again, the scenery of the Traviata is making lighting problems. There are many mirrors on the stage and that causes difficulties with reflections and flashes so you have to study the scenery carefully.

Sound was also explained to us, and how to take care to prevent sound reverberation.

And a very important point; security on the stage  for the "apparitions" and special effects that requires moving heavy structures and involves great  surveillance from  technicians and stage managers. As a result of one mistake, an actor could be run over by a ton of machinery.

Here you can see pictures from during our visit. We also visited the dressing rooms where actors and singers get into costume and make-up. 

One important point is to talk about the economical effects of scenic arts. We can think that when buying a ticket, we pay the singer, perhaps the musicians but we also saw ladies ironing, electricians, stage managers, makeup artists… sound engineers, delivery staff which also means trucks… then people at the cafeteria, wardrobe…

So it was a great visit in which we enjoyed and experienced the spaces behind the scenes, and what kind of coordination and from a lot people is necessary for ending up with a great show.

If you come to Pamplona, check out the program of performances at Baluarte. There are so many concerts and ballets. Even if you don´t speak Spanish, it doesn’t matter. Music is a universal language. Hope to see you in a concert, opera, or dance performance.

 For more information about Pamplona and Baluarte, check out ; http://www.turismodepamplona.es/ 

and http://www.baluarte.com

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