The New Riga Theatre became a prominent international destination under the artistic direction of Alvis Hermanis, a position he has held since 1997. Born in Riga in 1965, he transitioned from an early athletic background in hockey toward the performing arts, eventually establishing himself as a director, actor, and set designer whose work frequently tours throughout Europe.
Formative Years and Education
Before his emergence as a theatre professional, Hermanis trained as a hockey player at the Dinamo Riga sports school. He ended this pursuit at age 15 due to health constraints. He shifted his focus to the stage, gaining foundational training at the Riga pantomime studio led by Roberts Ligers, followed by a stint at the Riga Peoples artist studio from 1981 to 1982. He completed formal studies at the Latvian State conservatory, where he attended the theatre department between 1984 and 1988.
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Hermanis gained critical attention for his adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector at the 2003 Salzburg Festival, which earned him the Young Director's Award. This success initiated an extensive tenure within the German-speaking theatre landscape, leading to projects in Frankfurt, Berlin, Zürich, and Vienna. At the Burgtheater, he presented Arthur Schnitzler’s Das weite Land in 2011 and revisited his interpretation of Gogol in 2015. Additionally, his collaboration with Moscow’s Theatre of Nations, titled Shukshin’s Stories, became a global touring production.
Opera and Scenography
Beginning in 2012, his creative scope expanded to include the creation of opera sets and stage direction. His debut in this medium involved Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Die Soldaten, commissioned by the Salzburg Festival and conducted by Ingo Metzmacher. He returned to Salzburg the following year to stage Harrison Birtwistle’s Gawain. In 2014, he designed a notable production of Il trovatore featuring Plácido Domingo and Anna Netrebko, which converted the Great Festival Hall into a vast, interactive museum space.
Recognition and Public Profile
Hermanis has received numerous accolades, including the 2007 Europe Theatre Prize and the 2010 Konrad Wolf Prize. In 2012, the Swiss magazine du named him among the ten most influential European theatre figures of the preceding decade. While he was selected for the Order of the Three Stars, he declined the honor in 2007, ultimately accepting the decoration in 2012. Outside of his professional activities, he is a father of seven, with three children born to his wife, actress Kristīne Krūze.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Riga
- Citizenship: Latvia, Soviet Union
- Artistic Director: New Riga Theatre (since 1997)
- Europe Theatre Prize: 2007
- Konrad Wolf Prize: 2010
- Best Actor Award: Lielais Kristaps festival (1987)
- Notable Opera Work: Il trovatore (2014)
Questions readers ask
What is Alvis Hermanis's current role?
He serves as the artistic director of the New Riga Theatre, a position he has occupied since 1997.
Has he received international awards for his work?
Yes, his honors include the Europe Theatre Prize, the Konrad Wolf Prize, and the Nestroy Theatre Prize.
Achievements
- Order of the Three Stars
- Worked as theatre director, actor and scenographer
