- The initial phase of the three-year tenure of the Ruhrtriennale
With enthusiastic debuts and significant figures such as Sandra Hüller to Kirill Serebrennikov, the Ruhrtriennale commenced its initial phase under the guidance of new artistic director Ivo van Hove. The debut of Serebrennikow's epic play "Legend" was met with extended applause on a Saturday evening in Duisburg.
On a Friday evening, Hüller impressively showcased her talent in the opening premiere "I Crave Total Beauty" as a rock and pop singer. The musical theater, stemming from songs by British multi-talented artist PJ Harvey, was supervised by van Hove himself.
The distinctive atmosphere of a beleaguered director
What sets the Ruhrtriennale apart are its locations in the former industrial facilities of the Ruhr region. In his play "Legend" at the "Power Station" of Duisburg North Park - a former steelworks - Serebrennikow presented the world of the persecuted Soviet film director Sergei Paradjanov (1924-1990). Paradjanov's works inspired pop star Lady Gaga. The culmination of the four-hour play witnessed a political message displayed on a grand screen at the rear of the ensemble: "Free All Political Prisoners".
Paradjanov would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year. Originally born in 1924 in Tbilisi, Georgia, the Armenian challenged the Soviet regime with his peculiar lifestyle and phenomenal impromptu performances. The filmmaker endured several years in labor camps and prisons, including for alleged promotion of homosexuality, and was barred from working. Critics acclaimed Paradjanov's aesthetics, his management of legends and fairytale-like materials that defied the prescribed socialist cultural ideal.
Critique of Putin's Russia
Serebrennikow sheds light on Paradjanov's life and work through ten "Legends" with a lot of wit, grotesque humor, imaginative and vibrant references to Caucasian cultures, but also grim, delusional labor camp scenes. The director also integrates criticism of Russia's conflict against Ukraine. A scene depicting the aging King Lear can be perceived as criticism of President Vladimir Putin's prolonged leadership.
The destiny of 54-year-old Serebrennikow mirrors that of Paradjanov. In Russia, Serebrennikow was incarcerated in 2017 and was convicted on dubious charges, yet he managed to visit Germany. His new play is a co-production of the Ruhrtriennale with the Hamburg Thalia Theater and Kirill & Friends Company.
Throughout the performance, the audience hailed the actors, with Karin Neuhäuser as the aging diva leading the accolades. The play was framed by the enigmatic songs of the Patriarchal Choir of the Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, regarded as the most significant choir of the Georgian Church.
Flourishing start for Ruhrtriennale
The inaugural weekend of the Ruhrtriennale was filled with additional premieres and art. This includes the dance performance "Y" by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker at the Museum Folkwang in Essen. Notable figures will continue to shape the music, dance, and theater festival, which extends until September 15. The lineup includes the music theater "Horse Eats Stable" with music by Herbert Grönemeyer and a solo by French theater and film star Isabelle Huppert as "Bérénice" by Jean Racine.
The Ruhrtriennale's unique setting in Germany's Ruhr region, with performances held in former industrial facilities, drew attention to Kirill Serebrennikov's play "Legend" at the "Power Station" in Duisburg North Park. Despite facing challenges in his home country, Serebrennikov presented a powerful critique of Russia in his portrayal of the life and work of persecuted Soviet director Sergei Paradjanov.
