Author Interview | Carnival in Rio

200 full-color photographs
216 pages
10-1/4 x 10-1/4"
Hardcover book with audio CD containing 20 live recordings from Rio de Janeiro
Published 2000
ISBN: 0-7892-0642-0
Stock Number: 6420
U.S. $45.00

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Helmut Teissl sat down with a book reporter from the Austrian newspaper Karntner Tageszeitung after his book was first published in his homeland of Austria in 1999. A translation of that interview appears here with examples of Teissl's very latest photographs from Rio, taken since the book was published.

October 16, 1999
A man from Villach, Helmut Teissl, has caused a sensation with his photograph book. Packaged with a compact disc of Samba rhythms, it is a first-rate adventure for the eyes and ears. 70,000 new books were presented at the [October 1999] Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest book show in the world. One of these came from Dr. Helmut Teissl of Villach: his picture book "Rio Carnival," published [originally in German] by Verlag Christian Brandsatter. A completely new theme for an author who, since childhood, has authored books on the photography of mountains, nature, and landscape. Karntner Tageszeitung: How did you, as a nature lover above all, discover the Carnival of Rio? Teissl: I was first gripped by the musical drug of samba during my first stay in Rio in 1974. When I felt the primal force of 350 percussionists and saw the glorious and blazing colors of thousands of costumes, my photographic and musical heart was moved to action. As there existed no book or original sound recording that had truly done justice to the great visual and acoustic spectacle of this world, the thought occurred to me to make a book myself about the carnival of Rio, which is so rich in tradition. KTZ: Your book also comes with a CD. Teissl: Yes, this is something special about the book "Rio Carnaval." I did not want to only capture and transmit to the reader the photographic element. I wanted the reader to take part in the acoustic experience and be right in the middle of the rhythmic excitement. A CD which comes with the book contains twelve live recordings in stereo and eight studio recordings of the best samba songs of the past years. The texts and pictures refer to the works on the CD. KTZ: So, a multi-media book? Teissl: Definitely, interactive, as one would say today. The reader learns not only about the essential elements of the world-famous Carnival from the book. They learn about individual instruments and the sounds of baterias, the rhythmic groups that can consist of up to 350 drummers. The intensely colorful photos are a visual representation of what one hears on the CD. This book-CD package gives the reader the greatest freedom: his powers of imagination have free rein to merge the visuals with the sounds. If the reader can say, after looking at the book and listening to the CD, "I was at a great parade at the Rio Carnival," the goal of my book will have been fulfilled. "Rio Carnaval" is my declaration of love for the celebration of fantasy and the joy of life, and a thank you to the residents of Rio. Translated by Justin Urcis with permission from Karntner Tageszeitung.		Click image to enlarge view Photos © 2000-2001 Helmut Teissl, not to be reproduced or distributed without permission.

• View 36 exciting photographs

• About the music CD

• Interview and new photos

• Return to Carnival in Rio home

Author and photographer Helmut Teissl was born in Villach, Austria where he still lives, specializing in nature and landscape photography. Twenty-five years ago, on his first trip to Rio de Janeiro, he fell in love with Carnival, and since then he has witnessed and photographed Carnival twelve times.

Portrait of Helmut Teissl