Berliner Ensemble, Robert Wilson, and Rufus Wainwright Bring SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS to BAM, Now thru 10/12

The Bard is more modern and alive than ever in visionary Robert Wilson's Shakespeare's Sonnets, a contemporary take on 25 specially chosen sonnets from Shakespeare's canon. Set to a sweeping score composed by the renowned Rufus Wainwright, a genre-bending mix of medieval German Minnesang, classical, pop, and cabaret rock is performed by Bertolt Brecht's historic Berliner Ensemble. The sonnets were pared down and selected by Berliner dramaturge Jutta Ferbers who deftly adapted these captivating poems that were not originally intended for the theater. The production was first staged in Berlin in 2009 for the fourth centennial of the publishing of the sonnets. The production's world premiere was in April 2009 in Berlin and still runs in the Berliner Ensemble's repertory.

Wilson and Wainwright ruminate on beauty and eternity by embracing the prevalence of subversive gender conventions embedded in Shakespeare's 154 sonnets which move fluidly between male and female objects of desire-the production's male characters are played by women, and the female characters by men. Several quintessential characters make appearances; from boy to fool, from Cupid to the mysterious Dark Lady, from the Queen of England to Shakespeare himself. Wilson's signature sculpting of time, light, and gesture combined with Wainwright's romantic, sensitive, and at times disturbingly dark score transports audiences to a dreamlike place suspended in time.

BAM and the Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation dedicate the 2014 Next Wave Festival performances of Shakespeare's Sonnets to the late Robert W. Wilson, adventurous philanthropist and generous friend.

Shakespeare's Sonnets will feature directing, stage design and lighting concept by Robert Wilson, music by Rufus Wainwright, costume design by Jacques Reynaud and will be conducted by Hans-Jörn Brandenburg and Stefan Rager, with co-direction by Ann-Christin Rommen and lighting by Andreas Fuchs and Ulrich Eh. Performances play the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave), Oct 7-11 at 7:30pm; Oct 12 at 3pm. Tickets start at $25. In English and German with English titles.

Talk: Robert Wilson and Rufus Wainwright
Oct 8 at 6pm
BAM Fisher (Hillman Studio), 321 Ashland Pl
Tickets: $25, ($12.50 for Friends of BAM)

Photo Credit: Lucie Jansch