William Kentridge. Triumphs and Laments: a project for Rome - Opening

Don’t miss internationally acclaimed South African artist William Kentridge’s largest public work to date “TRIUMPHS AND LAMENTS: A PROJECT FOR ROME.” Opening celebration at Piazza Tevere this April 21-22, 2016.

TEVERETERNO and the Assessorato alla cultura e allo sport di Roma Capitale are pleased to announce a major new work by artist William Kentridge, entitled “Triumphs and Laments: A Project for Rome.”

The artist’s most ambitious project to date, “Triumphs and Laments “is a 500 meter-long frieze, erased from the biological patina on the travertine embankment walls that line Rome’s urban waterfront. Exploring dominant tensions in the history of the Eternal City from past to present, more than eighty figures, up to 10 meters high, represent Rome’s greatest victories and defeats from mythological time to present, forming a silhouetted procession on Piazza Tevere.

“Triumphs and Laments” will premiere with a live theatrical program – free and open to the public – performed on April 21 (the symbolic birthday of the City of Rome) at 20:30 and on April 22, 2016 at 20:30 and 22:30.

Created by William Kentridge, with original music by renowned South African composer Philip Miller and Thuthuka Sibisi, the performance features live shadow play and two musical processions – one an expression of triumph, one of lament – converging against the backdrop of the frieze, projecting voices and instruments across the river where the public will gather. The program will feature more than forty musicians and vocalists, including soloists Lavinia Mancusi, Ann Masina, Joanna Dudley, Patrizia Rotonda and Bham Ntabeni, as well as a diverse range of instruments, from the soft tones of the African kora to the rousing drone of the Italian zampogna.

In conjunction with the opening, TEVERETERNO will also present the first edition of its Young Composers Commission (Compositori Italiani Emergenti) on April 22 at 13:00. Directed by composer David Monacchi and produced in collaboration with two of Italy’s leading conservatories, G. Rossini of Pesaro and Santa Cecilia in Rome, the YCC will feature original compositions created by emerging Italian composers, inspired by the Tiber site.

The public is invited to watch the programming from Piazza Tevere’s eastern riverbank, opposite the frieze, which can be accessed via staircases at Ponte Sisto and Ponte Mazzini. The program may also be seen from street level on Lungotevere Tebaldi.

“Triumphs and Laments: A Project for Rome“ was conceived by artist William Kentridge in collaboration with composer Philip Miller, with the artistic direction of Kristin Jones. The project is promoted by Associazione TEVERETERNO Onlus and is produced by THE OFFICE performing arts + film under the technical direction of STEP s.r.l.

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