USA: 'War and Peace' will take to the stage with the largest cast in the history of The Metropolitan Opera

Record ID: 203483

  • Title: USA: 'War and Peace' will take to the stage with the largest cast in the history of The Metropolitan Opera
  • Date: 13th December 2007
  • Summary: ACTORS GETTING DRESSED BACKSTAGE AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES CABEL, MANAGER OF MEN'S WARDROBE AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, SAYING: "It's all done by pictures. It's what we call the costume bible, the pictures are in the bible, you open it up, you see that the Cossacks have this hat with the red over, it criss-crosses, and they have white gloves. So
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA9QVRMJW82HCCVXZO8J0D353BZ
  • Story Text: With a massive cast, a sweeping set, ornate costumes and a horse, dog, and goat, the production of "War and Peace" at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City, may prove to be as epic as Leo Tolstoy's 19th century novel.
    This latest theatrical depiction of Leo Tolstoy's novel, "War and Peace", the story of Russian aristocrats during Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, will be one of the largest productions in The Met's history.
    It will depict the largest battle in European history as well as the magnificence of the Imperial balls in Czarist Russia. The enormous cast includes 68 roles, 118 choristers, 41 ballet dancers and 227 extras.
    The production uses about 1200 costumes and requires 79 dressers to prepare the cast and make changes during the show.
    At the dress rehearsal on Friday (December 7), the final touches were put on each costume as the performers gathered for last-minute instructions.
    Each of the costumes were made in Moscow, Russia, and attempt to be true to the time period.
    James Cabel, who manages the men's wardrobe, said no detail was spared.

    "The costumes were made in Moscow, so they are close to perfection.
    I call them movie quality so the details are all there, down to the symbol on the armbands, the pouches are all different for each army, so they are as close to perfection as can be."
    During The Metropolitan Opera's performance of "War and Peace", as many as 350 cast members will be on the stage at one time.
    So what does it take to stage an epic drama on such a grand scale? The answer is organization, but Cabel says there is a secret to the success:
    "It's all done by pictures. It's what we call the costume bible, the pictures are in the bible, you open it up, you see that the Cossacks have this hat with the red over, it criss-crosses, and they have white gloves. So you go by the picture and then you duplicate."
    Sasha Semin both performs and trains at the Metropolitan Opera.
    He served time in the Russian Army, and taught the cast how to properly and precisely march like an elite Russian soldier.

    "Just marching them and doing those drills, left cut, right cut, " he explains. "I actually command in Russian. It looks like they've been enjoying it. Today we will see the results."

    "War and Peace" opens at The Metropolitan Opera on December 10 and runs through January 3.
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