At a Festival Amid Industrial Ruins, Ivo van Hove Takes Charge

The Ruhrtriennale Festival of the Arts in the Ruhr region of Germany is known for staging shows in old industrial sites. The festival’s new artistic director, Ivo van Hove, is familiar with the concept, having previously directed productions at the festival. One of the aims of the festival is to present a different perspective on musical theater, which often has a rigid division between high and low cultures in Germany. Krystian Lada, a Polish director, is set to present a production combining works by Bruckner and Björk at the 2024 festival.