Damiano Michieletto on the Future of Theatre and Art

In an interview with Artribune, Italian director Damiano Michieletto (Venice, 1975) discusses his career, inspirations, and views on contemporary art. He studied opera and theatre production at the Scuola d’Arte Drammatica di Milano Paolo Grassi and holds a degree in modern literature from the University of Venice. Michieletto has directed operas at major venues including Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Royal Opera House in London, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, and Staatsoper in Berlin. In 2024, he will stage Massenet's Don Quichotte at the Opéra de Paris. He also works in prose theatre with companies like Piccolo Teatro di Milano and Teatro Stabile del Veneto. Michieletto expresses skepticism about contemporary art, calling it a "new religion" where audiences behave like dogmatic followers, and hopes for a return to figuration. He cites his 2017 production of La damnation de Faust at the Opera di Roma as his most representative work, where he divided the musical material into titled scenes to explore Faust's identity. On the importance of genius loci, he notes that each theatre has its own spirit reflecting its city. Regarding the future, he believes Europe's ancient roots are essential, advises young artists to persevere, and stresses the importance of the sacred as respect for others. He predicts that in a digital world, those who resist massification and create tangible, unique work will be the true artists.