2008
Cairn
Jean Jourdheuil, « Bertolt Brecht, de 1947 à 1995, une chronique allemande », Études Germaniques, ID : 10670/1.m9uz5q
This text is like a chronicle. Its aim is the history of Brecht’s theatre since his return from the USA (1947) to Heiner Müller’s death (1995). Brecht’s work and posterity are analysed in the historical contexts of the following dates : 1953 (Stalin’s death and the uprising in East-Berlin), 1956 (Brecht’s death and the uprising in Budapest), 1961 (construction of the Berlin wall), 1976 (Biermann’s polemic), 1989-90 (fall of the Berlin wall, reunification of Germany). Two key-moments will be dealt with : Ruth Berghaus’ attempt after Helene Weigel’s death to revive the Berliner Ensemble under the supervision of a Directory (Langhoff, Marquardt, Müller, Palitzch, Zadek), and after the fall of the wall and German reunification to revive it under the supervision of Heiner Müller alone. The literary posterity of Brecht and the development of a scenic aesthetic inspired by him were subject to a kind of reversal initiated by stage director Einar Schleef and author and stage director Heiner Müller.