Goethe-Medaille awarded to Robert Wilson
This past week I received the Goethe-Medaille, an official decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany, honoring services for the German language and for international cultural relations. The two other esteemed awardees this year were the Polish theatre manager and festival director Krystyna Meissner and my close friend, the late Belgian opera director Gerard Mortier. Former awardees included Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Bourdieu, Agnés Heller, György Ligeti, Ariane Mnouchkine, Billy Wilder and Helen Wolff.
I was very touched by Thomas Oberender's laudatory speech, which can be found here (in German). Thank you to the Goethe-Institut for this exceptional honor.
ADAM'S PASSION with music by ARVO PÄRT
Here are some images from the first day of Stage A for ADAM'S PASSION. A new production I am working on with ARVO PÄRT in Tallinn, Estonia.
Photograph © Kristian Kruuser
"Cheek to Cheek" with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett
"Cheek to Cheek," a new installment in the PBS "Great Performances" series, featuring the duets of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, as well as my own lighting and set design, taped just a few weeks ago at Lincoln Center.
The production will premiere on October 24 at 9:00 pm EST on PBS. Tune in!
New Additions at The Watermill Center
Some exciting things have happened at The Watermill Center this year, namely the new entrance and the new location of the Clementine Hunter African House! The Africa House was first built for the occasion of the 20th Annual Summer Benefit, which commemorated the work of painter Clementine Hunter.
My relationship to Clementine Hunter has grown and evolved through much of my life, culminating in my production of Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter, which premiered at Montclair University, New Jersey in early 2013 and most recently in Lyon, France in June 2014.
Come see all the work that has been done at The Watermill Center!
2014 Watermill Center Gala Benefit "One Thousand Nights and One Night | Sleepless Nights of Sheherazade
Preparations for Dimitris Papaioannou's SYSIPHUS at Watermill
the opening segment from STILL LIFE | SISYPHUS | the new work of Dimitris Papaioannou, will be presented in the US for the first time at this year’s Watermill Center Summer Benefit Gala "One Thousand Nights and One Night | Sleepless Nights of Sheherazade" on July 26, 2014 - 6:00pm
Dimitris Papaioannou will also be staying on at Watermill to workshop
new material with the Summer Program participants.
RHINOCEROS by Eugene Ionesco
I am very proud of the work we did at the Teatrul Naţional Craiova (Romania), near the birthplace of Eugène Ionesco . The actors were truly amazing, among the best I have ever worked with in my life!
It will play in repertory during the next year with plans for tours. Many of the young participants from The Watermill Center Summer Program 2013 were involved in this production. My assistant Julian Mommert together with Adi Bulboaca took these photos.
