Paolo Conte brings joy to the Wädenswil cinema summer

Ueli Burkhardt, programme director of the Theater Ticino, pays homage to arthouse cinema in Wädenswil's Rosenmattpark. This year's line-up includes the great Paolo Conte. A conversation about a diverse, largely risotto-free house and programme.

Paolo Conte is finally coming to Wädenswil on 9 August. Mr Burkhardt, how did you manage this?

With a simple request to Xenix Filmdistribution GmbH! I wanted to know if the documentary "Paolo Conte - Via Con Me" was available for our film nights Rosenmattpark this year. Fortunately, Xenix was not averse.

Paolo Conte can only be seen on the big screen for the time being, va bene. Ogni cosa a suo tempo. But he would actually fit into Ticino quite well, wouldn't he?

Sure he would. A chamber concert - intimate, exclusive. We have room for dreams, and not all of them have to be realised.

You programmed the film. What did you learn about Conte in "Via Con Me"?

Little - actually nothing. I was able to look over the shoulder of a fine, clever, multi-talented man with esprit & Italianità for a bit, spent an entertaining 100 minutes and left the cinema exhilarated.

What is important to you when choosing films for Rosenmattpark?

To put together an overall programme. Arthouse cinema-goers already know most of the films. At the same time, we want to entice others to see films that they would otherwise continue to watch on Arte. This can always be achieved within the framework of an open air. We offer good stories, surprising plots, journeys to a foreign country, to other social classes or milieus. Or simply a summer evening's pleasure.

Besides Conte, what are the highlights of this summer?

I can't say, because the distinctiveness of each film is close to my heart and that's why it's in the programme.

The films all start at 9:30 pm. What do you do before that? A safari through the wine list?

A social safari, but always with a good drop of wine. The film nights in Rosenmattpark are also a meeting place for people from Wädenswil in the middle of the summer holidays. For those from outside, we recommend a film excursion by boat from Zurich? Bürkliplatz from 17h30, Wädenswil at 19h00 - and then time enough for a dinner under cosy trees in our centrally located park. Return trips can be arranged as needed during the film break.

In September we will continue with the regular Ticino programme. What can we expect?

Theatre Ticino has been a diverse guest theatre for 38 years - and the coming season is no exception. Among others, there will be: Ulan Bator, Margrit Sprecher with Graziella Rossi & Helmut Vogel, Schubert Theater, Cora Frost, Ohne Rolf, Matthias Deutschmann, Annette Windlin with "Besuch der alten Dame", Anna Mateur, Viviane Chassot & Jürg Kienberger, Peter Honegger, Andres Lutz, Helga Schneider, Thomas Sarbacher, Patti Basler, Robert Hunger-Bühler, Stefan Heuss, Werner Bärtschi, Judith Bach, Michel Gammenthaler and Horst Evers. I would especially like to mention the premiere of "Anna Karenina", which, after "Madame Bovary" and "Effi Briest", is the conclusion of a trilogy by the wonderful Zurich actress Mona Petri.

Ana Karenina? How do you have to imagine that? A five-hour play?

No. Jodi Vilardaga and Mara Gyr from Theater Ariane Winterthur (co-production) have created a stage version of about 90 minutes - a Karenina concentrate with an actress, an actor and a live musician. You get the tome without having read it. The evening could also be an inspiration for it.

Another name that immediately triggers something: Margrit Sprecher? THE Margrit Sprecher?

Yes! "The queen of reportage", as Thomas Hürlimann called her. Graziella Rossi and Helmut Vogel will read her reportages and Margrit Sprecher will chat from the "sewing box".

You have been responsible for the programme for many years. How did you actually find your way to the Ticino?

I didn't find Theater Ticino, but founded it together with my brother Martin and many other people in the mid-80s. Martin was a sound technician at the Schauspielhaus and I dropped out of an acting course in Vienna. Cultural freedom was THE issue back then and had to be fought for (also in the Agglo).

Do you actually eat Ticino food in Ticino?

No. In the 50s and 60s, the house was popularly called "The Ticino", because at that time a Ticino innkeeper ran the restaurant and dance hall, which was also a contact point for Italian guest workers. So apart from the name, we have nothing to do with Ticino. But we do have something to do with excellent food. Our chef Sergio Rossi cultivates a fine cuisine with Mediterranean flair.

Finally, in general: how would you describe the Ticino spirit?

Friendly and courteous. We offer live culture out of passion and marvel at great minds in our small space.
 

The film nights in the Rosenmattpark Wädenswil will take place until 12 August from 9:30 pm each night. Further information at theatre-ticino.ch.