Robert Wilson has passed away.

Renowned Theater and Film Director Robert Wilson Passes Away at 83

Robert Wilson, a visionary of avant-garde theater and one of the most important innovators of modern music theater, passed away on Thursday at the age of 83 in Water Mill, New York.

Born on October 4, 1941, in Waco, Texas, Wilson's career spanned over six decades, leaving an indelible mark on the international theater and opera scene. His works were renowned for their severity as well as their magical visual language.

Wilson achieved international breakthrough with the avant-garde opera Einstein on the Beach, created in collaboration with composer Philip Glass. This groundbreaking production dispensed with a classic plot, relying on repetitions and powerful visual worlds, and is now considered a milestone in opera history.

Wilson's trademarks - precise light, strict composition, and an unmistakable, almost meditative tempo - found favor at major opera houses around the world. He staged numerous works from the opera canon anew, including Wagner's Parsifal, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, and Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann, as well as premieres of contemporary composers.

Beyond his own work, Wilson inspired generations of artists as a set designer, lighting designer, and visual artist. He collaborated with renowned directors, composers, and singers, including Jessye Norman, Tom Waits, and Lou Reed.

Wilson was particularly influential in Europe, with productions at the Berlin Schaubühne, collaborations with poet Heiner Müller, and works like The Black Rider shaping his artistic reputation. His influence extended beyond the stage, as he founded the Watermill Center, a laboratory for interdisciplinary art, on Long Island.

Robert Wilson's legacy will continue to shape the future of theater and opera. His team announced his death, stating that he worked with great passion on new projects until the end. Wilson succumbed to a brief, severe illness. He will be deeply missed by the arts community and his countless admirers worldwide.