He is the biggest windmaker of the theater business.
Gets attention with almost everything he does.
Most recently, for example, by campaigning for the return of a mummy laid out in the Abbey Library in St. Gallen.
Milo Rau, born in Bern in 1977, is linked to a traditionalist concept of left-wing political theater and produces sometimes more, sometimes less impressive documentary theater evenings, kept in the style of an internationally readable aesthetic.
Now he has been appointed head of the Wiener Festwochen - one of the most important posts in Austria's cultural scene.
Simon Strauss
Editor in the Feuilleton.
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Councilor for Culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler (SPÖ) said that Rau was one of the "most important European directors".
He is “someone who is able to get people excited about theatre.
As a politically thinking artist, Milo Rau works in various areas from theater to opera to film and is well connected internationally.
As a result, there is once again a radiant artistic personality at the head of the Wiener Festwochen.”
Rau himself was euphoric about his new job: "I don't know of any other city that is as passionate about theater as Vienna, and I'm incredibly happy about my new job." to tie in and create a mythical, powerful, controversial theater festival.
It should be a festival week together with everyone and for everyone: a polyphonic, formally diverse, passionate and combative world theater.
A festival for Vienna and the world.”
Rau will take over as director of the festival from July 2023 from current hapless director Christophe Slagmuylder.
Slagmuylder surprisingly announced last fall that he was leaving the festival early.
He will take over the Bozar cultural center in his hometown of Brussels in the middle of the year.
Rau, in turn, gives up his position at the Dutch Theater in Ghent.