Opus – German Stage Award is to be conferred on two people at Prolight + Sound 2014. Stage designer Erich Wonder, originally from Austria, receives an award for lifetime achievement. In the ‘Technical Realisation’ category, the Opus is posthumously awarded to Mark Fisher for the realisation of ‘The Wall 2013’. Similarly, the ‘Jury’s Special Award’ also goes to the British designer, who died in 2013. The Opus Award will be handed over at Prolight + Sound in Hall 5.0 at 6:30 p.m. on 12 March 2014.
The theatrical arts, be it concerts, operas or drama, invariably create their effect through the interplay of many different elements. Just how important the visual elements and the structure of the space are, whether on a theatre stage or in a large stadium, is memorably demonstrated by the prizewinners of the Opus – German Stage Awards 2014. Each in his own way, these two prizewinners have made their mark with the broad spectrum of activities involved in stage design and equipment. On the one hand, for Austrian-born Erich Wonder, the focus has been on staging numerous theatre and opera productions. Innovative British designer Mark Fisher, on the other hand, has set new standards for stage designs for rock and pop stars and for large-scale events of all sorts and kinds.
Lifetime achievement award for Erich Wonder
The Opus – German Stage Award for lifetime achievement is to be presented to stage designer Erich Wonder. He receives the award for work that has won the hearts of audiences with innovative and impressive sets over many years. During his career, Wonder has worked at all the major theatres in the German-speaking world. He has worked with well-known directors, including Heiner Müller, Claus Peymann, Hans Neuenfels and Heiner Goebbels. Erich Wonder, also famous for his exhibitions and performances with, amongst others, Heiner Goebbels at ‘documenta 8’. Right from the early days of his career he was passing on his know-how to the next generation in various teaching contexts. Since 1985 he has been a Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts (Akademie der bildenden Künste) in Vienna and Head of the Advanced School of Scenography (Meisterschule für Szenographie).
Award for ‘Technical Realisation’ and ‘Jury’s Special Prize’ presented to Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher receives an Opus Award in the ‘Technical Realisation’ category for ‘The Wall 2013’ and, at the same time, the ‘Jury’s Special Prize’. Both prizes are awarded posthumously. The stage designer, who died in 2013, set new standards during his career for the realisation of large-scale rock and pop events, as well as for major sporting occasions. Fisher, who began his career as an architect, worked with Pink Floyd for the first time in 1978 and was responsible for, amongst other things, ‘The Wall’. Global stars like Madonna, the Rolling Stones and, for many years now U2, (recently with their 360° Tour) have all relied on his intuitive sense for large-scale stage sets. Even at major events, Fisher was capable of filling huge stadiums with functioning imagery – not least at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The award will be received by Mark Fisher’s close associate, Ray Winkler.
The adjudicating panel for the Opus – German Stage Award consists of sector experts from commerce and industry, the professional associations and Messe Frankfurt and includes journalists from the major trade publications. It seeks to honour outstanding new approaches in the creative use of technology. The prize, which carries no financial endowment, is sponsored by the German Association of Media and Event Technology (Verband für Medien- und Veranstaltungstechnik – VPLT), the European Association of Event Centres and Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
The award ceremony will take place as part of Prolight + Sound on 12 March 2014.
info: www.prolight-sound.com