HILMA: An Opera

Wilma Theater

The Wilma Theater. Photo by Plate 3 Photography.

Recipient

Grant Year 2022

Grant Amount $360,000

Status Completed

Updated July 9, 2024

A new opera explores the life, work, and spirituality of abstract painter and mystic Hilma af Klint (1862-1944). Now celebrated, af Klint’s work was underrecognized for decades until a 2018 retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum drew attention to her contributions to abstract art. With musical composition by Robert M. Johanson and a libretto by Kate Scelsa, the performance pushes the boundaries of opera and traditional biography, inspired by the historical details of af Klint’s life while contemplating the implications of her visual and philosophical work. The production’s stage design suggests the immersive experience of standing in front of one of the artist’s massive paintings.

The total grant amount represents project funding plus an additional 20% in unrestricted general operating support.

Primary EventsEvents & Exhibitions

The Wilma Theater, HILMA, 2024. Pictured from left to right: Sarah Gliko, J. Moliere, Pew Fellow Brett Ashley Robinson, Evan Spigelman, and Kristen Sieh. Photo by Johanna Austin.

HILMA Performances

Jun 4–23, 2024
The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19107

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uestions of ractice

EgoPo Classic Theater, rehearsal for Ramayana with Papermoon Puppet Theatre and Kalanari Theatre Movement, 2023, Java, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of EgoPo.

Interview

Projects in Process: Wilma Theater and EgoPo on Creative Collaborations

Recipient

Wilma Theater

Established in 1973, the Wilma Theater presents bold, original, well-crafted productions that represent a range of voices, viewpoints, and styles. In 2016, it formed the Wilma HotHouse Company as an incubator for artistic experimentation and the development of a unique methodology and distinctive performance style. Today, it operates under a collaborative model with a cohort of directors sharing artistic leadership. The Wilma received a Tony Award for Best Regional Theater in 2024.

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