Farewell to Robert Wilson, Artistic Genius and Beloved Friend of Spoleto

Spoleto, Friday, August 1, 2025 – The Festival dei Due Mondi of Spoleto mourns the passing of Robert Wilson, one of the most radical and influential voices in contemporary theater. The city loses an artist who, for over fifty years, intertwined his unique vision with the spirit of the Festival, leaving an indelible mark on all those who had the privilege of witnessing his work.

“Wilson was not just a guest of the Festival, but a protagonist, an artistic accomplice, a presence always awaited and never predictable,” said Monique Veaute. His relationship with Spoleto dates back to 1974, with his first appearance in A letter for the Queen Victoria, and later in 1995 for Spoleto Off. From 2008 to 2017, Wilson chose Spoleto as a privileged place to present some of his most extraordinary works, particularly those created in collaboration with the legendary Berliner Ensemble.

Among his most memorable works is The Threepenny Opera (2008), which marked the beginning of his long series of appearances at the Festival, followed by Happy Days (2009) with Adriana Asti, another unforgettable voice of the Festival, who passed away on July 31. In 2009, his signature also appeared on the official Festival poster.

With Krapp’s Last Tape, Wilson brought his magnetic and minimalist presence to the stage. With Shakespeare’s Sonnet(2010), accompanied by the music of Rufus Wainwright, and Lulu (2012), in collaboration with Lou Reed, Wilson blended artistic languages and musical universes, creating a theater made of light, silence, and rhythm.

His collaborations with artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Willem Dafoe gave life to iconic performances like The Old Woman (2013) and Letter to a Man (2015), while Peter Pan (2014), with the surreal sounds of CocoRosie, revealed his unsettling and dreamlike vision of the myth of childhood.

With Lecture on Nothing (2016), a tribute to John Cage, and Hamlet Machine (2017), inspired by Heiner Müller, Wilson closed his Spoleto cycle, leaving a profound mark not only in the memory of the audience but also on the very identity of the Festival.

Robert Wilson loved returning to Spoleto. The city, with its ancient light and history-laden silence, seemed to resonate in perfect harmony with his poetic vision. Here he found hospitality, inspiration, and that creative tension that only certain places can offer.

Today, we bid him farewell with gratitude and sorrow, knowing how much he gave us: images that remain, like flashes in our memory, and a perspective on theater that continues to teach us to see beyond.

Goodbye, Robert. The Festival will remember you with deep affection and gratitude.