Blog | HPRG The Louvre invites Patrice Chéreaufrom 2nd November 2010 – 31st January 2011 – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

The Louvre invites Patrice Chéreau
from 2nd November 2010 – 31st January 2011

Only the hardcore francophiles amongst you will have heard of Patrice Chéreau before, but as Wikipedia correctly states, he is a French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor, producer and all-round blooming artistic genius. What a great idea then for the Louvre to invite him to devise and host his own mini festival there, with theatre (obviously) but also dance, film, a new photographic creation by the wonderful Nan Goldin and lots more…

photo: JasonW

It’s good to see the world’s biggest and most venerable museum open up to collaborations with contemporary artists. For example, if you’re visiting the museum, don’t miss the new windows by François Morellet (Richelieu wing, on the Lefuel staircase) or the new ceiling painted by Cy Twombly for the Bronzes room, inaugurated earlier this year…

photo: JasonW

For his festival les visages et les corps (Faces and Bodies), Patrice Chéreau – who had been in love with the Louvre since he was a child, as much for the building as for its contents – has devised a varied programme of theatre with French actors Pascal Greggory, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi (sister of Carla Bruni) and Romain Duris, as well as films (Gerry by Gus Van Sant, Hunger by Steve McQueen…), modern dance and photos, with notable a new creation from Nan Goldin called “Scopophilia“, the fruit of six months of visiting the Louvre and being inspired by the paintings and sculptures.

Patrice Chéreau. Photo: © Nicolas Guérin

Chéreau isn’t afraid to mix it up either, with filmed theatre, a musical commission based on Murnau’s Sunrise, filmed opera, talks, debates… lots going on!

For more info about everything going on, click here. French speaker will no doubt enjoy reading the press release below. All 55 pages of it (click fullscreen to save your eyes).

Les visages et les corps by Patrice Chéreau is at the Louvre (here) from 2nd November 2010 – 31st January 2011.

www.louvre.fr

photo: JasonW