Giorgio Strehler

Giorgio Strehler (14 August 1921 – 25 December 1997) was an Italian stage director, theatre practitioner, actor, and politician. He was one of the most important people in Italian theatre during his time. Mel Gussow called him "the grand master of Italian theater" and "one of the world's boldest and most innovative directors."

Strehler helped start Italy's first and most important repertory company, the Piccolo Teatro of Milan. He also helped create the Union of the Theatres of Europe. The Teatro Strehler theatre in Milan is named after him because of his work in the arts.

In addition to his work in theatre, Strehler was involved in politics. With the Italian Socialist Party, he served as a Member of the European Parliament between 1983 and 1984, representing North-West Italy. Later, he switched to the Independent Left and served as a Senator from 1987 to 1992, representing Lombardy.

Biography

Giorgio Strehler was born in Barcola, Trieste. When he was three, his father passed away, and his grandfather helped raise him. His grandfather was a good horn player and helped run the Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste.

At first, Strehler didn’t care much about theatre. But one hot night, he went to a theatre for cool air and saw a play by Carlo Goldoni. This made him love theatre! He decided to study acting at the Accademia dei Filodrammatici.

During the war, Strehler lived in Switzerland where he directed a play by Albert Camus. After the war, he started the Piccolo Teatro di Milano with a friend. Their first play was by Maxim Gorky. Later, they performed a funny play by Goldoni that many people liked. Strehler also directed opera shows, starting with La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi at La Scala. He thought theatre should be important and make people think, not just for fun.

Influences

In the 1950s, Giorgio Strehler worked with famous playwright Bertolt Brecht. Brecht praised Strehler’s work. Strehler also loved plays by William Shakespeare like The Tempest and Macbeth, and works by Luigi Pirandello and Anton Chekhov.

Strehler changed Italian theatre by introducing the idea of a theatre director. Before this, plays were performed by traveling groups. He helped Italian writers and singers, like Ornella Vanoni. Even though he didn’t speak much English, Strehler was honored by France and worked with theatre groups in Europe. His shows were famous for their strong looks, thanks to stage designers Luciano Damiani and Ezio Frigerio.

Opera productions

Giorgio Strehler directed many famous operas in different cities. Some of his notable works include Jeanne d'Arc au Bûcher at La Scala in Milan in 1946, Lulu in Venice in 1949, and The Fiery Angel in Venice in 1955. He also worked on Simon Boccanegra by Verdi. This opera was performed at La Scala in Milan and later at the Vienna State Opera in 1984.

Strehler’s productions were seen in famous venues such as the Salzburg Festival and the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. His last production was Così fan tutte by Mozart at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 1998.

Theatre productions

Giorgio Strehler directed many famous plays. Some of his well-known productions include Richard II, Julius Caesar, and Coriolanus by Shakespeare. He also directed The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov and The House of Bernarda Alba by García Lorca. Strehler worked on plays by Pirandello and Bertolt Brecht, showing both classic and modern works on stage.

Strehler's work was known around the world, with performances in Paris and Vienna. In 2005, a road in Trieste was named after him to honor his work in theatre.

Europe Theatre Prize

In 1990, Giorgio Strehler received the Europe Theatre Prize in Taormina. The award honored his big influence on European theatre after World War II. As a director, he also guided, acted, wrote, and taught. His work helped create new ways for theatre across Europe.

Honours

Giorgio Strehler got an honorary degree from the University of Pavia in 1992.