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Rapido to Endstation
Synopsis
Rapido to EndStation relates what happened to the author in the five years following his official retirement from the University of Southern California. The author compares himself to an Italian train, mistakenly called a Rapido, being far from rapid and stopping only at minor stations. In a similar fashion Boerlage did not stop working after his exit from U.S.C., but continued to direct and teach at universities and to coach students. Thus the analogy: both he and the train have merely taken a different route. Rapido to EndStation gives a frank, brutally honest description of his struggles - with age, bureaucracy, relationships. The many high, sometimes low points of an adventurous life are mixed with some homemade remedies against frustration and depression (among others). His major interest in writing was challenged when, with the onset of Parkinson's disease, his barely legible handwriting impossible to decipher, the author was forced to collaborate with a computer: a Herculean task (he being far from technically astute) achieved.
Fifty years on stage (more precisely backstage as opera stage and T.V. director) are told; famous names recalled. The book is filled with self-mockery, fantasy, real life experiences, thoughts and visions. Surreal dreams intertwine with the author's life work.
Author Biography
Frans Boerlage
After a few years of law studies at the Municipal University in Amsterdam, (following in his forbears' footsteps), Dutch-born Boerlage switched to the theater: two years' training at the Webber-Douglas School of Dramatic Art in London, winning the Margaret Rutherford Prize for acting. After his return home, he started a career with the Nederlandse Opera as resident stage director, later adding drama instruction at its studio. During twenty years in Holland, he guest-directed performances all over Europe, (notably seven productions at Barcelona's Liceu), in South America and South Africa, and became director for AVRO Television in Holland.
In collaboration with the English actress Gillian Hume, he wrote several plays and a musical - some were successfully produced. He translated and wrote several opera libretti.
His United States stage debut was the 1972 production of Lucia di Lammermoor for Seattle Opera starring Beverly Sills. He remained there as resident stage director for two years (nine productions). He was guest director with numerous opera companies in the United States and Canada, performing works of "the Iron Repertoire" (Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Gounod, Wagner, Strauss, Britten and Menotti), as well as works of Copland, Stravinsky, Pasatieri, and Kirke Meecham.
He then concentrated more on teaching when he was asked to head (with a conductor/coach) the opera department at the University of Southern California. As full Professor of Music from 1974-1996, he taught stage training and stage directing classes, as well as directing the main stage operas. Many of his students have gone on to become internationally recognized singers and stage directors. After retirement, he continued as professor/director for The University of California at Los Angeles' (UCLA) productions, concluding with Don Giovanni performed in Royce Hall in 2001. He still gives master classes, but these days his main focus lies on writing.
Since 1996, he has written three books; Portrait Incomplete: Musical Memoirs, Rapido to EndStation and Changing Gears. Recently he has also dabbled in poetry, named and published as one of the Poets of 2005.
Boerlage lives with his partner of many years in their house in Santa Monica, 10 minutes walk from the Pacific Ocean with its large beach.
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Book Details
ISBN: 9781425713492
Book Size: 6 x 9
Pages: 216
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