European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Robert Pazur Frances Lytton a amps Ken George. Timur Koca americans seek the soot Light indy Edward Karam staff writer pursuing a career in Europe As a performer May seem like a glamorous notion at first glance. It May summon up memories of All those americans who wrote and painted their Way through Paris in the twenties a or like Josephine Baker danced in a costume of bananas. Or you might think of Liza Minnelli As Sally Bowles belting songs across the footlights in a Berlin cabaret. But in the 1990s, life is no cabaret and Sally Bowles idea of career planning is As popular As the rolling stones singing Gregorian chants. For three americans who currently work in Europe the decision to fashion a performing career abroad was made prudently and there s Only a Glimmer of Glamour in the paths they be chosen. Twin themes of hard work and cultural dislocation recur in their stories sometimes in unexpected ways. For Robert Pazur of monchengladbach Germany for instance the language is a persistent problem. Quot i had studied German in High school and College More or less for Reading purposes. But it s a huge difference Between Reading a newspaper or even More an academic Book and trying to buy a piece of pig meat from the Butcher Quot says Pazur who works for the unified City Heaters of Krefeld and monchengladbach near the dutch Border. Quot when you re dealing with a cultivated person they la make an Effort to understand you even if you use the wrong ending or gender. But someone on the Street won t have the slightest idea what you re talking a native of Lincoln neb., Pazur moved to Germany in 1989 after receiving a master s degree in conducting from the University of Michigan. He works at the theater As a Repe Tuteur. Quot what that Means is that i coach the singers and teach them their parts Quot he explains. Quot it involves playing and singing other he plays for Large rehearsals during the staging of an opera or musical and he also plays piano celesta and harpsichord for the orchestra when they Are required. If a production has a chorus or instruments behind the stage he conducts them. Quot every once in a while i conduct a real show which for me is usually a Ballet or superstar or an operetta Quot he says. Quot i Haven t yet got to do a real opera but that May the shirt something Pazur decided to go to Germany because Quot the German interest in classical music and opera and older Art forms is much greater than in America Quot he says. Quot in America it s about 5 percent. In Germany it s 35 Pazur says his goal is to Quot be a full fledged conductor rather than just once in a while Quot he views his career progression As Quot slow but opportunities in classical music also Drew Soprano Frances Fenton Lytton to the Frankfurt opera. She had already spent a year at the Zurich opera studio when she auditioned for the Frankfurt opera in 1989. She was accepted for the 1990-91 season and after a year and a half was offered an unlimited contract she has appeared in Small roles in Lohengrin per Rose Kavalier and Elektra and on the fourth of july she Sang the National Anthem at the Consul general s official Celebration in Frankfurt. A the decision to leave new York for Europe was a crucial move for the native texan s singing career. She wanted to work in a repertory House where a Singer performs in several operas each season learning a Broad repertoire from Verdi and Wagner to Richard Strauss and Shostakovich. Quot in America Quot she says Quot we have Only one repertory House it which is the metropolitan opera. The German system which includes Austria and Switze land has been the envy of the opera world because a Singer is Able to get More expedience Here in a Shorter time than anyplace continued on Page 18 Friday september 16, 1994 the stars and stripes 17
