Bill Viola, a renowned video artist known for his collaboration with director Peter Sellars on a groundbreaking production of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde,” has passed away at the age of 73. Viola died at his Long Beach home from Alzheimer’s disease, as announced on his website. The production, referred to as “The Tristan Project,” debuted in 2004 at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, then in Paris, and later in New York. The staging has been revived multiple times in various cities worldwide, including Paris, Helsinki, London, and Tokyo. Videos from the project were also displayed at New York’s James Cohan gallery in 2007.
In a 2013 interview, Viola expressed his hope that the audience would gain a deeper understanding of life’s fleeting nature and the power of love through his work. His unique techniques included filming in remote locations like Vermont woods, creating elaborate stage setups with waterfalls and fire, and incorporating high-definition visuals within live performances. Critics hailed his work as a transformative addition to the opera world.
Viola, a graduate of Syracuse, began his career in video art in the 1970s and achieved recognition for his innovative creations. He received prestigious fellowships and was the first video artist to have a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in 1987. Despite financial challenges during the production of “The Tristan Project,” Viola and his wife, Kira Perov, who he married in 1980, were determined to see it through to completion.
Bill Viola is survived by his wife Kira, sons Blake and Andrei Viola, and daughter-in-law Aileen Milliman. His impact on the art world and his pioneering contributions to video art will continue to be celebrated and remembered by many.
