Does Robert Alföldi go to
abroad?
Robert Alföldi: It was a
coward farce
Under his directorship he and
his company won many awards. Given his mandate expires this summer even in the
late fall of the last year a competiton started in which Robert Alföldi took
part too. At the end of December an ideologically and carefully chosen Board of
Trustees proposed the government to select an other director. A few yours after
the announcement of result we met Robert Alföldi. Our christmas edition was in
press then so we postponed the interview. Adam Sztankay interviewed Robert
Alföldi.
Director Árpád Schilling (the
founder of Krétakör ) published a writing in Élet és Irodalom in which he
called the public figures to voice their opinions instead of silence. Silence which
serves the power. After spending five year in the Theatre what do think, what
happened to National Theatre?
Schilling writes: we have to
politicize. I think we have to talk. We were far from policy, we submitted our
review ignoring policy. That is the strongest though unspoken accusation
against us. Regards the final result: Though they refer to national values
still a coward and ridiculous comedy took place. I would add: my mandate
expired and I would not say a word if not a ’targeted’ the Board of Trustees
have been organized. In other case it would not be a problem that Attila
Vidnyánszky and me think in other way about the Theatre. Zoltán balog
congratulated for our earlier work. Ont the other hand we should consider where
the Theatre got under the previous leadership. How many people go to Theatre?
What are the economic indicators? What does the program schedule look like?
However the decision-makers did not care about the work invested. Nevertheless
the people working int he Theatre deserve much more. Masculine treatment.
Peter Fekete will arrange the
handover-takeover, not Attila Vidnyánszky. Otherwise Mr Fekete is subordinate
to Mr Vidnyánszky in the Magyar Teátriumi Társaság. Is it easier for you?
I need to know what power
Peter Fekete will have. I will not accept derogative situation.
What could be more derogative
than this?
For example a new ’maneuver’ for the authentication of the the
new leadership.
In which they would try to
prove retroactively that is somebody more suitable for the position than you?
Fact: There is no reason to
switch. The greatest sin is the cultural waste. It is not about me but about
the values of the past five years. Ad absurdum: if there was a cultural
politician today then it was Imre Pozsgay at time when József Katona Theatre
formed then the values of National Theatre could be saved.
Did Attila Vidnyánszky visit
the Teátrum?
We should ask them about this.
Nevertheless he is an
internationally renowed artist who take over the leaderhip of National Theatre.
Attila declared in relation to
the National Vidnyánszky: It will be a sacred institution that will travel.
Technical question: How can a sacred institution travel? It would be reassuring
if they said: National Theatre is basically a theatre.
Minister Balog himself said,
the National Theatre is more than a theater.
I know from this point of view
the problem with my theatre is that it identifies the problems. But I do think
it is important. The theatre attendance shows: most of people think the same
way. Of course it may turn out we can create a good theatre in other way. I do
not think that there are a hundred or a hundred and twenty people in Budapest -
now these people visit the theatre - who went to the theatre just because they
did not find an other place which comply with their spirit. On the other it is
true: I am not currently in my objective condition.
It was not an objective
condition shortly before the announcement you said: I beleive that I have
chance to keep my position.
If I had not beleived I would
have not start.
But strong events could reduce
your faith: special theatre director ranging Hungarian Academy of Arts’
avowing.
I thought in relation to
Hungarian Academy of Arts: the president was forced to leave next day after
some sentences. He did not. In the present state of affairs the most terrible
is that there is no time to lose our objectivity. As far as I am concerned
about my situation that is quite special: They wanted to change more but I
spend my whole time till I can.
How can you escape from
dismissal of experiments?
Different elements explained.
Ultimately it is about: it would have not been remunerative politically. For
instance after the Roman celebration in political point of view they could
think: it is better if I am not fired.
The endgame began two years
ago when you met all the ’culture control arm’. Did any of them say: calm, the
’aggro’ around you is just a dog comedy, you will stay in your position, and
you can likely to re-apply.
We talked behind closed doors.
It would be foreign stlye if I said anything about this.
Earlier you mentioned once you
were offered to have an other theatre. In this point of view it is interesting:
which one?
Then the theater historians
will investigate which one.
It is said that ’network of
friend’ Peter Balázs will help you to lead Vígszínház indstead of Eszenyi. Is
it a possible way?
I do not know. Anything can
happen.
By your profession can you
resist to moral and intellectual ’running down’?
In Poland ’profession’ could
stand prevent harming the intrerest. In Hungary resistance means sending text
message or carefully written letters. Besides how could we stand up in a
country where perceived or declared policy is the basis of two theatrical
organization? If I tell somebody in the world, they think I am joking.
How is your socitey loyal to
you?
I told everyone: do not do
anything for me, do not seethe, the world function in other way. Of course the
events caused internal conflicts in many people. Conflicts which are
challenging in my situation. Despite of the news that weighed on the theatre no
one started to locate. They - as a rare exception - joined forces. They did not
let dirt get into the obstacle.
What is next for you?
Although I have received
offers here, it is more likely to continue the course abroad.
What is the most important the
director years brought to you?
It may seem that I explain
myself but I found myself. I could experience how my ideas correct, how strong
is my ethic belief. I have learned when it makes sense to let my passion to go
when I have rein it. I am able to take the responsibility for my decisions, to
admit my mistakes, apologize. Nevertheless the most important is that I can look into mirror.
(The interview was published in the XXV.year, first edition.)
’You could live well
here…’
Interview with Robert
Alföldi about America, Europe and hate
Nobody is indifferent
regarding Robert Alföldi. It is very rare that an individuality has absolute posotive or negative
impact on people. It is about a man (in thirties) who saw the light and
returned from Portland
(Oregon) in January where he directed Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Based on his experiences
tells us: ’ In Budapest there is such cultural life as in New York or London,
yet, somehow I am not at
ease in this situation.
- How did you get into Portland?
- Due to more people. Philippe Arnoult (New
York International Theatre Development Centre Director) figured out that American Theatre should open
to Europe, and European directors could work in America who have the facility to fructify the
U.S Theaters. He brought a lot of people who saw different shows from different directors from which
they chose. John Szász, Enikő Eszenyi and me went to America to work. László Marton (head of
Vígszínház) also played an important role in the project who has been directing in America since many
years. Actually he initiated the project together with Philippe.
- The people (from America) was here and
chose the Merchant of Venice which you directed in Tiroli
Theatre 7 years ago. But the others who did
not see the drama, what did they say?
- They warned me against that drama. I took
part in gathering where some of supporters of the Theatre told me this drama anti-Semitic and
violates the Jews. What I could tell them there is just you here: this is about hatred and pushes the
question of why people are not interested in each other. Me, when I travel, I go to places that
I do not know. Unknown the culture, the language, the smells, the belief, the religion. It's
because I'm curious. I was not even in a remote corner of the world where people would not be moved.
There was a big debate out there, with mostly Jews, whether the part when Shylock prays should be
included or not. Before staged The Merchant of Venice at home, I did not know anything about
it and never saw anything like that. Why is it a problem, why cannot I present different
culture, a different faith? In addition, a part of which is known only by those who are themselves
practicing it. This is about faith but not the way I wade into someone’s soul or question or I have an
opinion about.
- At the time, the show and its subject
aroused very extreme emotions here.
- This is an extreme show, it speaks
extremely, and the relationship to Jews and non-Jews is extreme
too. I have a Jewish friend who told he will
not see it. This is a hornet's nest. It is no coincidence that
after 1945 it was staged just five times in
Hungary. But I reached what I wanted. Here and there.
People talked a lot about the show. Heller
wrote thirty-page, beautifully, clearly what it really tells
about. She explained why Shylock flail with a
knife. This is a show that is very strongly tied to a social
moment in Central and Eastern Europe seven
years ago. In America, every interview was about what
this show will tell Americans, how will it be
American. The American people are exactly the same as
we do! But, we believe that there is a very
different world than here. They do not live in a different
world, it was the greatest experience. They
fully understood. They saw in general. Of course the
meaning is little bit different there. When
they told about that in 1941 the Ku-Klux Clan organized
demonstrations in front of the shop I thought
it is okay, okay. Our great-grandfathers were brought
to be gassed in the same time. 3 years ago
probably they would have accepted in other way but now
after 11st September everything has changed a
lot.
- Some years ago Hungarian Jewish Cultural
Association invited you to take part in ’a name - a victim’
event. Why did you accept the request in the
first moment?
- Why is it question? I was not interested in
the ’up to date’ behaviour, so why is it in front of the
House of Terror (in Budapest). I was
interested in how the Holocaust happened and I cannot beleive.
It deeply concerns me when I meet Holocaust
on film, or in book, or people who survived. I feel it
absurd, painful and very desperate. I am
really not a Jew, ’but I am a Jew’, they say. My mother is
not Jewish, my father is Jewish. Halfway ...
Full disorder! I do not know my father so long, I did not
know a lot about my family for example that
we were called in other way before 1940. In the college
people often asked me: you're Jewish? I did
not understand why this is important. There was the
change of regime, people could talk about,
everybody came with every kind of flags - that had been
burned yet, now burned. I do not understand
this, I do not like this… to say the least.
- Can it be changed or it is eventual?
- Many people are working hard to keep it so.
There is a big question whether can it be changed, while the country needs the
change. We do not have to love each other but we should not hurt each other.
The people misuse concepts. I think that any theistic believers want to take
part in it. There are many definitions circulating in the ether, and got a very
bad connotations in the last decade, which, I think is my intimate, chaste
private matter. My national identity, my faith, my Hungarian consciusness, my
religious consciousness, my God, my values, my morals. It is quite tragic that
this state - no mater who it is started by, which government, which party - can
be keep a very long time. In this kind of extreme situation - I mean the last
election - it is said, everybody should utilize everything, the end justifies
the means. It is desperating that it is continuously present, on the surface,
the things happening are rougher and rougher. It is called idealism when I
think there will be like when people do not hate each other. This can be traced
back to what I used to say: The neighbour's cow die. It is very rare to see
elsewhere. I was working in Slovakia just in the city where Meciar was in power.
I lived there for 3 months with my five Hungarian fellow. We went to
restaurant, discussed with locksmith, sewing woman, cleaning lady. And we were
never stigmatized. While I read at home that Nitra University wants to
eliminate Hungarian philosophical education. I talked to a student girl there
who said of course they wish to eliminate because they have only 3 students and
it does not worth to operate. Just in Hungary the news were withheld. I was in
Iran for a month. If you go there you are Jewish, Europen or American - what
you want to be because you are not one of them. There I was not distinguished.
Here If you are successful you are hated because you are gipsy or rich or poor.
If have car - you are looked down on - if you do not have then too. Imre
Kertész received Nobel Prize. It is said, Jews receive it only! My smart friend
say well - I always ask them - these are our historical roots. I am not
interested in historical roots. Our generation do not have much to do with
anything. On the other hand I think everybody is forced to live the same in his
own life.
- Do not you just mean the Faust directing in
Szeged?
- But yes. Maybe it is going to sound
pretentious but I tell you if you have already mentioned. You could not have
seen Hungarian opera, unfortunately in the most classical music channel Mezzo.
Hungarians rarely show up in it, sometimes Zoltán Kocsis or András Schiff. The
Faust could be seen five times. Everybody asked wondering how we arrenged it.
Not we! We sent the tape and we were told they need that. The greatest French
Opera Festival director came here and said the classical music is arguing about
Faust. And it is not my merit because people will not remember my name but that
they had seen an opera in Hungary. In this country only music magazine do not consider to deal
with it... Besides the fact that I am a career and that I could only read:
Faust was so unwatchable and awful. Only one normal critique appeared in the ÉS
(a magazine). If you just look at it, it broke through a gate, it was worth to
direct it, no matter what people think about it. And that's pretty much the
same, what we've been talking about. The Tilos Radio issue is as well as
relevant. I can not believe what happened, I had just come back from America,
when the thing has faded. Even they asked for forgiveness a thousand times - it
is not usual in Hungary! - they received very harsh punishment, one that never
occured before. But it is a very good decision, because at the moment as
extreme will happen again it will be possible to refer to this, and hopefully
inflammatory people will not be relieved. Although this bias will not
disappear.
- Otherness is the staring point of all
directing. Your aim is to attempt to make people thing to make them
open-minded?
- Yes. My whole life - no matter how it looks
like - was spent as a weird. I did not understand why. Just because I think of
certain things like most people do not? In Hungary there is only one way.
Whereever you go - you do not even have to go to the West - In Romania, in
Slovakia, in Czechs there are more ways, no closure, no ideology of if there is
several types are accepted. Everybody criticizes this age in which we live. I
think it is very rare the moment in history that depends on us, what we choose.
In this regard there is really freedom and it
is good that my shows truly represent freedom. Let's scold, let god, but at
least they talk and think about it. I cannot stand the hypocritical modesty. I
can not stand that for example there are my shows. People are shocked if they
see two naked men. Meanwhile Hungary is the major power in porn industry in
Europe. Inspite of all these Hungary is a good place because it is mettled.
Surely that is why all these things can happen. It would be totally fine to
live here. But if anybody look at the happenings of the past few years can see
- and we must not be a philosopher in order to see! - how much we are stupid. I
lose my friend because I vote for an other party? What is this? In kindergarten
this is what kids fight for? For me it was at its peak. We are not supposed to
feel that if it continues we need to leave. And be sure I am not the one who
thinks it by the way. We should shake each other. We need a regular GrandPa
shakes his children and grandchildren and shouts: Enough! Calm down! everyone's
senses come on, come on, we are ready for Sunday lunch.
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