The Hall of the Caryatids of Palazzo Reale in Milan hosts from 2 December 2017 to 4 February 2018 Strehler between Goldoni and Mozart. Exhibition-Workshop, an exhibition dedicated to the figure of the great theater director, curated by Lorenzo Arruga, who was close to him as a theater and music scholar, promoted and produced by the Municipality of Milan-Culture, Palazzo Reale, in collaboration with the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, Teatro alla Scala and Mondo Mostre Skira, with the participation of the Cerratelli Foundation, the Teatro dei Documenti and Teche RAI. Technical sponsor Promos Communication. Radio Montecarlo media partner.
Giorgio Strehler was the founder together with Paolo Grassi and Nina Vinchi of the first permanent public theater in Italy, the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, Strehler contributed in a decisive way, in the years just following the end of the Second World War, to the cultural rebirth in our city from physical and moral rubble caused by the Nazi-fascist dictatorship - declares the councilor for culture Filippo Del Corno -. And it is precisely the Hall of the Caryatids, which still bears the scars of the wounds of that war, to host an exhibition-workshop that helps to retrace the creative process of one of the most important characters in the history of our theater".
The exhibition, set up in an innovative way, offers an airy and evocative image of Strehler's theater, through summary videos of the performances and in-depth analysis of techniques and characters, photographs of moments that have become famous, sketches and figurines, models, scenography elements such as the famous statue of the Commendatore del Don Giovanni and memorable costumes, which retrace the theatrical story of Strehler, from the happy age of the first inventions and hopes, in the innocence of Harlequin servant of two masters e The abduction from the menagerie, to the hard conquests of Don Giovanni and So do all.
Strehler between Goldoni and Mozart it is a critical exhibition, which stands out among the various events to remember Giorgio Strehler, twenty years after his death. In a society that is constantly invited to take quick and ephemeral knowledge of everything possible, Strehler's lesson invites the visitor to take possession of realities to understand and share.
Images, sounds, words must lead one to think in the first person, each with their own culture and world: emotions and revelations, memories and discoveries of a wonderful season in Milan can help to raise one's conscience and one's pride.
It is a true exhibition-workshop, where research and inventions are proposed directly to the public, as a work that continues and offers future ideas. In this spirit, a platform was set up in the Hall of the Caryatids (that of theHarlequin!) on which the interventions of famous guests related to Strehler and his world will alternate.
The exhibition is part of a particular moment, in which the seventy years since the foundation of the Piccolo Teatro and Strehler's debut at La Scala are celebrated, twenty since the death of the musician Fiorenzo Carpi, ten since the death of the set designer Luciano Damiani, his close collaborators.
Young scholars and theater and communication operators contributed to the initiative, such as Lucia Giorgio, set designer, Elena Biscotti, expert in planning and art organization, Marcello Alongi and Hillary Piras, video and photography operators, Heidi Mancino, researcher, with the operational contribution of Piero Tirone – ADW graphics and Davide Rigodanza lighting designer. Alberto Bentoglio and Valentina Dellavia worked with this group in the role of consultants.
Sergio Escobar suggested the theme to focus on, Strehler's essential work on Goldoni and Mozart, which marked an artistic and human journey, unique in its originality and importance, in the context of theater and musical theater of the twentieth century, at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan-Teatro d'Europa and La Scala.
A Strehler between Goldoni and Mozart. Exhibition-Workshop the laboratories and archives of the Piccolo Teatro and La Scala took part; Chiara Donato made the choice of the costumes on display; the Cerratelli Foundation and the Teatro dei Documenti have provided their precious help and Teche RAI has made its archives available.
