Valère Novarina
Swiss choreographer and photographer (1942–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Valère Novarina (4 May 1942 – 16 January 2026) was a Swiss choreographer and photographer.[1]
Photographer
Valère Novarina | |
|---|---|
Novarina in 1986 | |
| Born | 4 May 1942 Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland |
| Died | 16 January 2026 (aged 83) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France |
| Education | University of Paris |
| Occupations | Choreographer Photographer |
Life and career
Born in Chêne-Bougeries on 4 May 1942, Novarina was the son of architect Maurice Novarina and stage actress Manon Trolliet.[2][3] His brother, Patrice, became an architect and plastic artist.[4] He studied philosophy and philology at the University of Paris.[5]
His first piece for the stage was titled L'Atelier volant and it was directed Jean-Pierre Sarrazac. In 1976, he wrote Falstafe, a modern-day adaptation of Henri IV by William Shakespeare, which was directed by Marcel Maréchal at the Théâtre du Gymnase in Marseille.[6][7] He gained recognition in 1987 for the play Le Discours aux animaux, which was shown at the Festival d'Avignon and featured actor André Marcon.[8] He also directed two radio shows for France Culture, Le Théâtre des oreilles and Les Cymbales de l'homme en bois du limonaire retentissent.[9] He joined the Comédie-Française in 2006.[10][11] As a longtime regular at the Festival d'Avignon, he had been attending since the first term of Bernard Faivre d'Arcier.[12] In 2007, he opened the Festival dans la cour d'honneur with his play, L'Acte inconnu.[13] In 2015, he presented the play Le Vivier des Noms at the Cloître des Carmes.[14][15] In 2017, he was a candidate for the Académie Française in a seat left vacant by the death of René Girard, but Michel Zink was elected instead.[16]
Novarina died in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 16 January 2026, at the age of 83.[17]
Distinctions
- Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1995)[18]
- Knight of the Legion of Honour (2001)[19]
- Officer (2025)[20]
- Prix Jean-Arp de littérature francophone (2011)[21]
- Homage at the Rencontres européennes de littérature (2012)[22]
- Symposium at the Centre culturel international de Cerisy-la-Salle (2018)[23]