Evi Keller's Light-Matter Creations Illuminate Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Serebrennikov's The Black Monk
In March 2023, Evi Keller, a German artist represented by Jeanne Bucher Jaeger, presents her creations in two productions. The first is Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at the Opéra royal de Versailles from March 17 to 19, where Keller designed costumes with Laurent Mercier and crafted translucent veils known as 'Matières-Lumières,' under the direction of Blanca Li and the baton of William Christie. The second production, Kirill Serebrennikov's The Black Monk at the Théâtre du Châtelet from March 16 to 19, adapts Chekhov's tale into a multilingual narrative that blends theatre, dance, and acrobatics. Its final act features a glowing rotating chorus of monks, echoing Serebrennikov's personal experiences of house arrest in Moscow.
Key facts
- Evi Keller created 'Matières-Lumières' for Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at Opéra royal de Versailles, March 17–19, 2023.
- The production originated at Teatros del Canal de Madrid, directed by Blanca Li, conducted by William Christie.
- Keller's works include dark, translucent veils arranged as a triptych of ashes against a celestial fire reflection.
- Costumes for Dido, Aeneas, and Belinda were designed with Laurent Mercier.
- Kirill Serebrennikov's The Black Monk ran at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, March 16–19, 2023.
- The play repeats Chekhov's story four times in four languages with three actors.
- Serebrennikov uses three plastic greenhouses as 'matter-light' objects.
- The production premiered at Thalia Theater, Hamburg in 2022 and was at Avignon Festival in summer 2022.
- Serebrennikov was under house arrest in Moscow for two years before exiling to Berlin.
- Keller is represented by Jeanne Bucher Jaeger, Paris-Lisbonne.
Entities
Artists
- Evi Keller
- Blanca Li
- William Christie
- Laurent Mercier
- Kirill Serebrennikov
- Anton Chekhov
- Henry Purcell
- Stéphane Voirin
- Agnès Lassalle
- Angelin Preljocaj
- Novalis
- Max Ernst
- Sigmar Polke
Institutions
- Opéra royal de Versailles
- Théâtre du Châtelet
- Teatros del Canal de Madrid
- Thalia Theater
- Avignon Festival
- Jeanne Bucher Jaeger
Locations
- Versailles
- France
- Paris
- Madrid
- Spain
- Hamburg
- Germany
- Avignon
- Moscow
- Russia
- Berlin
Sources
- artpress —