Opera director
Theater Prize: Klaus Zehelein honored for life’s work
The dramaturg Klaus Zehelein gives his acceptance speech. He was honored in Hamburg for his life’s work. photo
© Markus Scholz/dpa
Once a year, theater professionals come together to honor special artistic achievements. Now the German Theater Prize has been awarded in Hamburg for the second time.
Opera director Klaus Zehelein (83) is with the Germans Theater Prize “Der Faust 2023” was honored for his life’s work. “You have shown incredible courage for a fundamentally new understanding of musical theater, indeed for its revolution,” said Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov in his laudatory speech on Saturday evening at the Thalia Theater in Hamburg.
The German Theater Prize honors outstanding artistic achievements that reflect the diversity of the theater landscape in Germany.
Zehelein (83) was opera director at the Stuttgart State Opera from 1991 to 2006. He then headed the August Everding Bavarian Theater Academy in the Prinzregententheater in Munich as president. He was also a lecturer at the University of Oldenburg and, among other positions, worked as chief dramaturge and opera director at the opera in his hometown of Frankfurt am Main. From 2003 to 2015, Zehelein served as President of the German Stage Association.
Brosda: Another world is possible
Its president and Hamburg’s Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda (SPD) said on the occasion of the award ceremony: “It is precisely the stages that show us every day that another world is possible. We need this play with reality, the inspiration and sometimes even irritation – especially now, when the world seems to be falling apart in various ways.”
The theater prize was also awarded in twelve other categories: Ligia Lewis received the award in the category Dance Actor for “A Plot/A Scandal” (Ruhrtriennale), Fritzi Haberlandt in the Actor Category for “Information of the Person” ( Deutsches Theater Berlin) and Vera-Lotte Boecker in the musical theater actress category as Nadja in “Bluthaus” (Bavarian State Opera Munich).
Wicki Bernhardt and Janna Pinsker were honored in the category of actors in theater for young audiences in “Family Creatures” (Mousonturm Frankfurt). Florentina Holzinger was awarded in the dance production category for “Ophelia’s Got Talent” (Volksbühne Berlin), Stefan Bachmann in the drama production category for “Johann Holtrop – Demolition of Society” (Schauspiel Köln/Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus).
Other award winners
David Hermann received the prize in the musical theater production category for “Dogville” (Aalto Musiktheater Essen), Alexander Riemenschneider in the theater production category for young audiences for “The Child Dreams” (Junges Staatstheater Berlin). The “Faust” in the Space category went to Manuel Braun, Jonas Dahl and Rainer Sellmaier for “Arabella” (Deutsche Oper Berlin) and to Michael v. zur Mühlen in the sound and media category for “Opera – a future game” (Festival for Games).
Johanna Trudzinski was awarded the prize in the costume category for “Baroque” (Schauspielhaus Bochum) and Thomas Krupa and Tobias Bieseke in the genre jumper category for “Die Wand (360°)” (Schauspiel Essen). The Fundus Theater in Hamburg was awarded the state perspective prize.
The German Theater Prize has been awarded since 2006 by the German Theater Association and the German Academy of Performing Arts in cooperation with the Cultural Foundation of the States. 40 artists in twelve categories were nominated this year.