Theater drapes and stage curtains

In connection with the performing arts, the term curtain has the following meanings:

Main Curtain

Firstly, it refers to the main curtain for the optical resolution of the stage and auditorium - unlike curtains which share the stage space as soffits, curtains between the lanes or stage backdrops, and thus are part of the scenery.

The following main curtains are common:

• The upward -raised, mostly undivided curtain ( German curtain). As prospectus curtain it can be smooth and painted. He needs an upper stage with an adequate amount. For this, no storage space is required on the sides.
• The split in the middle, usually mounted on rails curtain. It can - in some optional - be opened in three ways. As Greek curtain (the most common version ) it is fixed with wheels on rails and can be pulled to the sides.
• When the Italian curtain halves will hold together at the top and open diagonally mounted in the lower half of the edges ropes.
• The French curtain (which technically elaborate version ) will wind up with two combined trains both up and diagonally. A variant of this is the Wagner curtain.

The manual operation of a Vorhangzugs with hemp rope requires special skills because the rate for technical reasons and for the sake of elegance has to be varied.

History

While the theater of ancient Greece knew no curtain, take in the theater of ancient Rome since the middle of the 1st century BC, a front curtain on the " aulaeum " or " Siparium ". The medieval stage simultaneous knew no main curtain, but used smaller portion curtains for encryption and revelation of individual scenes of action. With the backdrop of the stage of the main curtain came through the court opera and ballet performances since about 1519 Italy in the German language area. Even the Jesuit theater used it, and in the popular theater of the main curtain is detectable since 1637. From the 18th century the main curtain was also used for the name of the Aktschlüsse. In the 20th century it changed many times its appearance and function, such as half-height Brecht curtain, sometimes he also fell away completely.

The East Asian theater developed different types of curtains part, so knew the Japanese kabuki since the middle of the 17th century next to the entrance curtain the main curtain, also the act and transformation curtain, rear curtain and the curtain unveiling.

Safety curtain

The Iron Curtain (often referred to as " the Iron " ) or curtain is a fire protection device in the theater, the stage and the auditorium fireproof and reasonably airtight separates. He is drawn immediately before the presentation up. After the Vienna Ring Theater Fire 1881 he was widely introduced.

The iron curtain is for the audience in front of the main curtain. Its front is most artistically.

Symbolic meaning

In a figurative sense, the "curtain" a measure of the applause of the audience. In case of prolonged applause, the curtain is repeatedly opened to release the views of the contributors, or the performers appear before the curtain. Each of these performances will be counted as a "curtain". Supposedly 89 Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf curtains were Nureyev in 1964 after a performance of Swan Lake at the Vienna State Opera.