SOLD-OUT Triennale Debut - Eidinger Lauds "immense exhibition spaces" - Exhibition debuts with a full house.
Ruhrtriennale Music and Theater Festival Kicks Off in Remarkable Industrial Sites
The Ruhrtriennale, one of Germany's largest festivals, is currently in its second season under the direction of Ivo van Hove. This year, the festival is taking place in former industrial facilities across the Ruhr area, including Bochum, Duisburg, Gladbeck, and Essen.
The festival's home base, the Bochum Jahrhunderthalle, is a former gas power plant that spans nearly 160 meters in length and 21 meters in height. This industrial monument, now repurposed as a cultural venue, exemplifies the festival's distinctive use of historic industrial spaces.
Other venues include the machine hall of the former Zweckel coal mine in Gladbeck, where the production "Rave-L Party" by Les Apaches! is a highlight of the opening weekend. This production transforms Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" from an orchestral piece to a trance-like techno hit, promising an energetic start to the festival.
Larissa Sirah Herden and German actor Lars Eidinger star in the lead roles of "Rave-L Party". Eidinger also expressed that he feels the production is "really a product, like it comes out of a factory, where many hands contribute to it becoming what it is."
In addition to "Rave-L Party", "Oracle" by Lukasz Twarkowski is another must-see production at the Ruhrtriennale. This production explores the life of computer pioneer Alan Turing, who cracked the German Enigma code during World War II but was persecuted by his own government for his sexual orientation. The production features music by Frank Sinatra and American pianist Nina Simone.
The Ruhrtriennale runs from August 21 to September 21, with 137 events in Bochum, Duisburg, Gladbeck, and Essen. Approximately 80 percent of the festival's funding comes from public funds, primarily from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ruhr Regional Association, as well as several foundations.
Two-thirds of the 45,000 tickets for the festival have already been sold, with the festival's opening premiere, "I did it my way", selling out. Lars Eidinger described the festival's venues as "enormous halls" and felt like a "mite of art" in them.
The festival takes place in former industrial halls and production facilities in the Ruhr area, creating a powerful atmosphere by transforming former machines and industrial workspaces into venues for music, theater, dance, and other artistic productions. This unique setting connects the region's industrial past with contemporary arts, creating a compelling contrast and unique atmosphere for performances.
References: [1] Ruhrtriennale. (2021). Venues. Retrieved from https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/venues [2] Ruhrtriennale. (2021). About the Ruhrtriennale. Retrieved from https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/about-the-ruhrtriennale
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