Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars

Known for the unconventional stagings of his operas, the creator of Einstein on the Beach and The Life and Times of Sigmund Freud had a unique and epic concept for this projected overall new work. The piece, based on the theme of the U.S. Civil War, would be created simultaneously in six countries using six different composers. Each participating country developed segments of the work which were first performed separately in the country of origin. The resulting, complete nine-hour version, slated for the L.A. Olympics, was to have united and inter-related all the casts and crews into a multidisciplined masterpiece of staging and world theatre. Unfortunately the dream which began in 1979, was never realized and the film only documents Wilson’s personal battles concerning “The Wars”. (Variety, 6.5. 1987)