Olivier Py (; born 24 July 1965 in

Grasse Grasse (; Provençal dialect, Provençal oc, Grassa in classical norm or in Mistralian norm ; traditional it, Grassa) is the only Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in the Provence- ...

Alpes-Maritimes Alpes-Maritimes (; oc, Aups Maritims; it, Alpi Marittime, "Maritime Alps") is a department of France located in the country's southeast corner, on the Italian border and Mediterranean coast. Part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, it ...

) is a French stage director, actor and writer.

Career

In 1997, Py became director of the Centre dramatique national d'Orléans. In 2007, he became director of the Théâtre de l'Odéon in Paris. Py describes himself as

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

and

homosexual Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...

. He is known for his emphasis on Catholic and

homoerotic Homoeroticism is sexual attraction between members of the same sex, either male–male or female–female. The concept differs from the concept of homosexuality: it refers specifically to the desire itself, which can be temporary, whereas "homose ...

themes. Since the early 2000s, Py has increasingly devoted himself to the

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

. His productions of ''

La damnation de Faust ''La damnation de Faust'' (English: ''The Damnation of Faust''), Op. 24 is a work for four solo voices, full seven-part chorus, large children's chorus and orchestra by the French composer Hector Berlioz. He called it a "''légende dramatique'' ...

'', ''

Tannhäuser Tannhäuser (; gmh, Tanhûser), often stylized, "The Tannhäuser," was a German Minnesinger and traveling poet. Historically, his biography, including the dates he lived, is obscure beyond the poetry, which suggests he lived between 1245 and 1 ...

'' and ''

Tristan und Isolde ''Tristan und Isolde'' (''Tristan and Isolde''), WWV 90, is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the 12th-century romance Tristan and Iseult by Gottfried von Strassburg. It was compose ...

'', all in Geneva, have generally been well received. In March 2008, he debuted at the

Paris Opéra The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be k ...

. On this occasion he stated to a French magazine ('' Diapason'', March 2008) that he "would not be done staging operas until edid Wagner's ''

Ring Ring may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell :(hence) to initiate a telephone connection Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...

'' and ''

Parsifal ''Parsifal'' ( WWV 111) is an opera or a music drama in three acts by the German composer Richard Wagner and his last composition. Wagner's own libretto for the work is loosely based on the 13th-century Middle High German epic poem ''Parzival'' ...

''".

Theatre

Works written and directed

* 1988: ''Des oranges et des ongles'' * 1990: ''Gaspacho, un chien mort'' * 1991: ''La femme canon et le bouquet final'' * 1992: ''Les Aventures de Paco Goliard'' * 1992: ''La Nuit au cirque'' * 1992: ''La chèvre'' * 1994: ''La Jeune fille, le diable et le moulin'' * 1995: ''La Servante – histoire sans fin'' * 1996: ''Apologétique'' * 1997: ''Le Visage d'Orphée'' * 1998: ''Requiem pour Srebrenica'' * 1999: ''L'Eau de la vie'' * 2000: ''Le Cabaret de Miss Knife'' * 2000: ''L'apocalypse joyeuse'' * 2001: ''Au monde comme n'y étant pas'' * 2001: ''L'Exaltation du labyrinthe'' * 2001: ''Épître aux jeunes acteurs pour que soit rendue la parole à la parole'' * 2003: ''Jeunesse'' * 2004: ''Le Vase de parfums'', opera libretto * 2004: ''Faust Nocturne'' * 2004: ''Miss Knife chante Olivier Py'' * 2005: ''Les Vainqueurs'' * 2006: ''Illusions Comiques'' * 2011: ''

Romeo et Juliette Romeo Montague () is the male protagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Romeo and Juliet''. The son of Lord Montague and his wife, Lady Montague, he secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet, through a priest ...

'' (Shakespeare), at Theatre de l'Odeon * 2011: ''Die Sonne (Le Soleil)'',

Volksbühne Berlin The Volksbühne ("People's Theatre") is a theater in Berlin. Located in Berlin's city center Mitte on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz (Rosa Luxemburg Square) in what was the GDR's capital. It has been called Berlin's most iconic theatre. About The Vo ...

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

, Germany

Published works

* 1994: ''La Jeune fille, le diable et le moulin'', L'école des loisirs * 1998: ''Théâtre'', Solitaires Intempestifs * 2005: ''Les Vainqueurs'', Actes Sud * 2007: ''Les Enfants de Saturne''

Other productions

* 1989: ''Mon Père qui fonctionnait par périodes culinaires et autres'' () * 1996: ''Miss Knife et sa baraque chantante'', Festival d'Avignon * 1993: ''Les Drôles'' (Élizabeth Mazev) * 1999: ''

Der Freischütz ' ( J. 277, Op. 77 ''The Marksman'' or ''The Freeshooter'') is a German opera with spoken dialogue in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind, based on a story by Johann August Apel and Friedrich Laun from their 181 ...

'' (

Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his opera ...

), Opéra de Nancy * 2001: ''

Les Contes d'Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died ...

'' (

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (, also , , ; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera '' ...

Grand Théâtre de Genève Grand Théâtre de Genève is an opera house in Geneva, Switzerland. As with many other opera houses, the Grand Théâtre de Genève is both a venue and an institution. The venue is a majestic building, towering over Place Neuve, official ...

* 2003: ''

'' (

Hector Berlioz In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

), Geneva * 2003: ''

Le Soulier de satin ''The Satin Slipper'' (''Le Soulier de satin'') is a long play by the French dramatist and poet Paul Claudel, written in 1929. It was first performed on stage in 1943, in a production by Claudel and Jean-Louis Barrault. Its run time is roughly elev ...

'' (

Paul Claudel Paul Claudel (; 6 August 1868 – 23 February 1955) was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism. Early lif ...

), Orléans * 2005: ''

'' (

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

, Geneva * 2005: ''

'' (Richard Wagner), Geneva * 2006: ''

A Cry from Heaven ''A Cry from Heaven'' is a 2005 play by Irish playwright Vincent Woods. It retells the story of the beautiful Deirdre and the Sons of Usna which is one of the great tragedies of Irish myth. The birth of a girl heralded by omens of a vulture-shrou ...

'' (

Vincent Woods Vincent Woods (born 1960) is an Irish poet and playwright. His life Woods was born in County Leitrim. He studied Journalism in the College of Commerce, Rathmines. Woods lived in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia and worked as a jour ...

) * 2006: ''

Curlew River ''Curlew River – A Parable for Church Performance'' (Op. 71) is an English music drama, with music by Benjamin Britten to a libretto by William Plomer. The first of Britten's three 'Parables for Church Performance', the work is based on the J ...

'' (

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

) * 2008: ''

The Rake's Progress ''The Rake's Progress'' is an English-language opera from 1951 in three acts and an epilogue by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is based loosely on the eight paintings and engravings ''A Rake's Progres ...

'' (

Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (6 April 1971) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor, later of French (from 1934) and American (from 1945) citizenship. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the ...

Opéra National de Paris The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be k ...

(

Palais Garnier The Palais Garnier (, Garnier Palace), also known as Opéra Garnier (, Garnier Opera), is a 1,979-seatBeauvert 1996, p. 102. opera house at the Place de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built for the Paris Opera from ...

) * 2008: ''La Trilogie du Diable: La Damnation de Faust'' (Hector Berlioz), ''Der Freischütz'' (

), ''Les Contes d'Hoffmann'' (Jacques Offenbach).

* 2017: ''

Mam'zelle Nitouche ''Mam'zelle Nitouche'' is a Opérette vaudeville, vaudeville-opérette in three acts by Hervé (composer), Hervé. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Albert Millaud. This story of a respectable musician, transforming himself into a songwriter at ...

'' – in which he appeared as an actor/singer, touring until 2019 * 2018: ''

Lohengrin Lohengrin () is a character in Germany, German Arthurian literature. The son of Percival, Parzival (Percival), he is a knight of the Holy Grail sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden who can never ask his identity. His story, which fi ...

'' (Richard Wagner),

La Monnaie The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie (french: Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, italic=no, ; nl, Koninklijke Muntschouwburg, italic=no; both translating as the "Royal Theatre of the Mint") is an opera house in central Brussels, Belgium. The National O ...

, Brussels; 2022

Opera Australia Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of ...

Movies

Actor

* 1989: ''Dis-moi oui, dis-moi non'' (short) directed by Noémie Lvovsky * 1995: ''

Funny Bones ''Funny Bones'' is a 1995 comedy-drama film from Hollywood Pictures. It was written, directed and produced by Peter Chelsom, co produced by Simon Fields, and co written by Peter Flannery. The music score was by John Altman, and the cinematogr ...

'' directed by Peter Chelsom * 1995: ''Au petit Marguery'' directed by Laurent Bénégui * 1995: ''75 centilitres de prière'' (short) directed by Jacques Maillot * 1995: ''Corps inflammables'' (short) directed by Jacques Maillot * 1996: ''Casse-casse partie'' (TV) directed by Gérard Renouf * 1996: ''Chacun cherche son chat'' directed by

Cédric Klapisch Cédric Klapisch ( ; born 4 September 1961) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. Life and career Klapisch was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine. He is from a Jewish family; his maternal grandparents were deported to ...

* 1997: ''La Divine poursuite'' directed by

Michel Deville Michel Deville (born 13 April 1931) is a French film director and screenwriter. Deville started his filmmaking career in the late 1950s, paralleling the emergence of the French New Wave directors. He never achieved the level of critical and in ...

* 1998: ''

Late August, Early September ''Late August, Early September'' (french: Fin août, début septembre) is a 1998 French drama film directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Mathieu Amalric. Plot Several lovers and friends come to make decisions on how to live their lives, find ...

'' * 1999: ''Peut-être'' directed by Cédric Klapisch * 1999: '' Nos vies heureuses'' directed by

Jacques Maillot Jacques Maillot (born 12 April 1962) is a French film director and screenwriter. He has directed nine films since 1993. His film '' Nos vies heureuses'' was entered into the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. Filmography * '' Des fleurs coupées'' (1 ...

* 2000: ''Les Yeux fermés'' (TV) directed by Olivier Py

References

External links

*
Interview (in French) about opera on Odb-opera.com

''

Le Monde ''Le Monde'' (; ) is a French daily afternoon newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average circulation of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which were sold abroad. It has had its own website si ...

'', 29 March 2018 * Langlais, Pierre (2007)
"Olivier Py or the religion of the theatre"
''Label France'' No. 66. {{DEFAULTSORT:Py, Olivier 1965 births Living people People from Grasse French male film actors French Roman Catholics French theatre directors French theatre managers and producers French opera directors French gay writers LGBT Roman Catholics French LGBT dramatists and playwrights French National Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni Male dramatists and playwrights