Jorge Lavelli

Jorge Lavelli (11 November 1932 – 9 October 2023) was an Argentine-born French theatre and opera director. He staged first plays and then opera, and in both fields, he was open to contemporary pieces without neglecting the classic repertoire.

Lavelli was first recognised when he directed Witold Gombrowicz's The Marriage for a 1963 drama competition. He was head of the Théâtre national de la Colline in Paris from 1987 to 1996, focusing on 20th-century plays. As an opera director, he worked mainly for the Paris Opera and for leading opera houses and festivals internationally. His 1975 production of Gounod's Faust for Paris, set during World War I, was played until 2003.

Life and career Jorge Lavelli was born in Buenos Aires on 11 November 1932 to parents who had immigrated from Italy.

Drama In 1961, Lavelli joined the Théâtre des Nations in Paris. and Oskar Panizza's (1969; sets and costumes by the surrealist painter Leonor Fini).

From 1987 to 1996, Lavelli was head of the Théâtre national de la Colline in Paris and gave it a focus on contemporary plays.

Recognition Lavelli won theatrical prizes in France, Spain, and Italy. He was nominated for the Molière Award for Best Director five times. He was made Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1993, Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor in 1994, and Chevalier (in 1992) and Officer (in 2002) of the National Order of Merit.