Hermann Nitsch's 158th Action in Naples: Ritual, Chaos, and Catharsis

On September 18, 2020, Hermann Nitsch, an Austrian actionist born in 1938, staged his 158th performance called "Sinfonia Napoli" at the Museo Archivio Laboratorio per le Arti Contemporanee Hermann Nitsch in Naples, dedicated to Peppe Morra. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the performance featured ritualistic themes including crucifixions, salvations, and a bacchic sparagmós with bodies and fruit. The Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti, under the direction of Andrea Cusumano and featuring clarinetist Gaetano Russo, provided the musical backdrop. Nitsch's Orgien Mysterien Theater explores the balance between instinct and control, utilizing blood, tunics, and wooden elements to create a rich sensory experience. In a video interview, he shared his unwavering faith "in life, and in creation." Diana Gianquitto covered the event for Artribune.