Waltz with me - A review on Tanz Der Vampire
I guess it's kind of obvious from my latest update.
I have seen Tanz Der Vampire. And it was glorious.
I've known about this musical for some years now and have listened to songs from it from a time to time. It always seemed rather good, so when I heard it was coming to Finland, I knew I had to see it. For a while, I almost forgot about the musical but then my sis offered to order the tickets, and the week before finally sing the Tanz was almost painful.
We went to the theatre, with my sis and a friend of ours (and her boyfriend - he got a last minute ticket). We actually had the tickets for the front seats, basically on the very middle of the audience. And then the magic began.
I simply cannot communicate how beautiful, amazing and breathtaking Tanz Der Vampire, or Vampyyrien tanssi in Finnish, actually is. I had seen videos on Youtube about it and knew it is an impressive show. I also suspected it is a hard one to make well. Singers like Thomas Borchert really set huge expectations, and the whole visual side, too.
Vampyyrien tanssi is not an exact replica of the other productions, but that hardly matters. Instead, it has a highly personal taste to it. I actually have hard time believing budget was 700 000 euros: the dresses and the props are so beautiful. I especially loved the garments, and like many reviewers have already said - the Count seems to have impeccable taste for giving his lady love Minna Parikka boots.
The coreographies were absolutely amazing, and time and time again the stage was filled with speed and vividness. As far as I know, the dance ensemble consists of Finnish dancers, which was a great thing to hear: we actually have such amazing talent in our country! After the performance, I watched some videos on the scene Carpe Noctem and I truly felt that the Finnish production was far better. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that I saw everything from the very first seat-row: all that beauty and skill was in the front of my eyes.
And the singers! I cannot possibly brag enough about the singers. The cast could not have been better: from the charismatic Graf Von Krolock to the inexperienced Sarah, the choices for actors were superb. The moment Jyri Lahtinen enters the stage he practically owns it, and I kept on wishing for his reappearance. Every scene with him kept me on the edge of my seat, wishing to see and hear more of him. Lahtinen embodies the bitterness, the cynicism and the dark magnetism of the Count's personality - and this all is accompanied by his magnificent singing. In my opinion, Lahtinen ranks right up there with Borchert and Barton. In fact, he might just be my favourite Krolock ever.
It would be easy to pale in comparison with such powerful character and actor, but this does not happen - something that speaks of the professionalism and talent of other characters. Raili Raitala makes a wonderful Sarah and her beautiful voice fits right there with Lahtinen's. She embodies the inexperienced young girl who desperately hungers for life and adventure: she's not just your ordinary Mary Sue, but someone who has been thoroughly dazzled by the dark, handsome vampire Count and what he has to offer. Raitala's duet Kun Kaikki Pimenee (Totale Finsternis) with Lahtinen is one of the best moments of the entire musical.
Ville Salonen makes a perfect Alfred and he has natural chemistry with Raitala. He has just that boyish innocence and fresh infatuation for a pretty girl: he does not come across as irritating third wheel who only interrupts the dark temptation between the Count and Sarah, but completes it. Tanz Der Vampire plays with cliches and somehow Alfred, like the others, make it entertaining and new. Salonen's powerful voice is even somewhat surprising thing to hear, but not in a bad way. The main trio's voices are in odd harmony: none of them falls back when compared to others, but they add up to the wonder and magic that is Tanz Der Vampire.
And then there is Herbert, played by Jouko Enkelnotko. Truly, any moment with him on the stage was pure festival. Enkelnotko takes everything out of the comic factor of the character, yet also makes him believable and realistic. Like a friend of mine said, in other productions Herbert often seems rather distant from his father, but Enkelnotko and Lahtinen make it look like these two are indeed a son and a father, and they are close, too. Enkelnotko's portrayal, and Lahtinen's too, make me want to know more about the two: how they became vampires, if it was the Count who turned Herbert, what kind of things they do together and so on. Enkelnotko is not afraid to show that his character is really homosexual - something that surely requires self-confidence when one is performing on the stage. Enkelnotko is a different kind of animal when it comes to singing, and unlike the main trio, he doesn't sound as practiced. However, he has such a personality and stage presence that it makes up for anything.
For some reason, I never really liked Professor Abronsius before. He was always that eccentric who seemed to be there more as comic relief than as an actual character. Esa Ahonen completely changes this: Abronsius becomes much more than just an eccentric who desperately wants to believe in the existence of vampires. He gives the character personality I never saw before. Like the others, he is also a very good singer and his song Järki (Wahrheit) truly makes you hold your breath: how can he deliver that fast litany so perfectly?
As for the side characters, everyone seemed to fit well their particular roles. I liked Seinäjoki theatre's take on Koukol, and Antti Railio's magnificent voice fit Carpe Noctem perfectly. If anything wrong is to be said about the cast, I sometimes felt that Heikki Vainionpää's Chagal was a bit over-acted.
To sum this litany somehow, I truly loved the musical. Everything just clicked. The Finnish production is pure celebration of music and magic from the very first note to the last, wonderfully vivid and aggressive dance of the vampires. I recommend this to anyone who likes good musicals, and even to those who have lost faith in vampire fiction. I, for one, am going to see Graf Von Krolock take Sarah to the dance as many times as I can.
A link to the web site: http://www.seinajoenkaupunginteatteri.fi/vampires_in_english
I have seen Tanz Der Vampire. And it was glorious.
I've known about this musical for some years now and have listened to songs from it from a time to time. It always seemed rather good, so when I heard it was coming to Finland, I knew I had to see it. For a while, I almost forgot about the musical but then my sis offered to order the tickets, and the week before finally sing the Tanz was almost painful.
We went to the theatre, with my sis and a friend of ours (and her boyfriend - he got a last minute ticket). We actually had the tickets for the front seats, basically on the very middle of the audience. And then the magic began.
I simply cannot communicate how beautiful, amazing and breathtaking Tanz Der Vampire, or Vampyyrien tanssi in Finnish, actually is. I had seen videos on Youtube about it and knew it is an impressive show. I also suspected it is a hard one to make well. Singers like Thomas Borchert really set huge expectations, and the whole visual side, too.
Vampyyrien tanssi is not an exact replica of the other productions, but that hardly matters. Instead, it has a highly personal taste to it. I actually have hard time believing budget was 700 000 euros: the dresses and the props are so beautiful. I especially loved the garments, and like many reviewers have already said - the Count seems to have impeccable taste for giving his lady love Minna Parikka boots.
The coreographies were absolutely amazing, and time and time again the stage was filled with speed and vividness. As far as I know, the dance ensemble consists of Finnish dancers, which was a great thing to hear: we actually have such amazing talent in our country! After the performance, I watched some videos on the scene Carpe Noctem and I truly felt that the Finnish production was far better. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that I saw everything from the very first seat-row: all that beauty and skill was in the front of my eyes.
And the singers! I cannot possibly brag enough about the singers. The cast could not have been better: from the charismatic Graf Von Krolock to the inexperienced Sarah, the choices for actors were superb. The moment Jyri Lahtinen enters the stage he practically owns it, and I kept on wishing for his reappearance. Every scene with him kept me on the edge of my seat, wishing to see and hear more of him. Lahtinen embodies the bitterness, the cynicism and the dark magnetism of the Count's personality - and this all is accompanied by his magnificent singing. In my opinion, Lahtinen ranks right up there with Borchert and Barton. In fact, he might just be my favourite Krolock ever.
It would be easy to pale in comparison with such powerful character and actor, but this does not happen - something that speaks of the professionalism and talent of other characters. Raili Raitala makes a wonderful Sarah and her beautiful voice fits right there with Lahtinen's. She embodies the inexperienced young girl who desperately hungers for life and adventure: she's not just your ordinary Mary Sue, but someone who has been thoroughly dazzled by the dark, handsome vampire Count and what he has to offer. Raitala's duet Kun Kaikki Pimenee (Totale Finsternis) with Lahtinen is one of the best moments of the entire musical.
Ville Salonen makes a perfect Alfred and he has natural chemistry with Raitala. He has just that boyish innocence and fresh infatuation for a pretty girl: he does not come across as irritating third wheel who only interrupts the dark temptation between the Count and Sarah, but completes it. Tanz Der Vampire plays with cliches and somehow Alfred, like the others, make it entertaining and new. Salonen's powerful voice is even somewhat surprising thing to hear, but not in a bad way. The main trio's voices are in odd harmony: none of them falls back when compared to others, but they add up to the wonder and magic that is Tanz Der Vampire.
And then there is Herbert, played by Jouko Enkelnotko. Truly, any moment with him on the stage was pure festival. Enkelnotko takes everything out of the comic factor of the character, yet also makes him believable and realistic. Like a friend of mine said, in other productions Herbert often seems rather distant from his father, but Enkelnotko and Lahtinen make it look like these two are indeed a son and a father, and they are close, too. Enkelnotko's portrayal, and Lahtinen's too, make me want to know more about the two: how they became vampires, if it was the Count who turned Herbert, what kind of things they do together and so on. Enkelnotko is not afraid to show that his character is really homosexual - something that surely requires self-confidence when one is performing on the stage. Enkelnotko is a different kind of animal when it comes to singing, and unlike the main trio, he doesn't sound as practiced. However, he has such a personality and stage presence that it makes up for anything.
For some reason, I never really liked Professor Abronsius before. He was always that eccentric who seemed to be there more as comic relief than as an actual character. Esa Ahonen completely changes this: Abronsius becomes much more than just an eccentric who desperately wants to believe in the existence of vampires. He gives the character personality I never saw before. Like the others, he is also a very good singer and his song Järki (Wahrheit) truly makes you hold your breath: how can he deliver that fast litany so perfectly?
As for the side characters, everyone seemed to fit well their particular roles. I liked Seinäjoki theatre's take on Koukol, and Antti Railio's magnificent voice fit Carpe Noctem perfectly. If anything wrong is to be said about the cast, I sometimes felt that Heikki Vainionpää's Chagal was a bit over-acted.
To sum this litany somehow, I truly loved the musical. Everything just clicked. The Finnish production is pure celebration of music and magic from the very first note to the last, wonderfully vivid and aggressive dance of the vampires. I recommend this to anyone who likes good musicals, and even to those who have lost faith in vampire fiction. I, for one, am going to see Graf Von Krolock take Sarah to the dance as many times as I can.
A link to the web site: http://www.seinajoenkaupunginteatteri.fi/vampires_in_english