{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Short description|Austrian theatre and film director (1931–2022)}} {{Infobox person | name = Hellmuth Matiasek | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|05|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = Vienna, [[First Austrian Republic|Austria]] | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|04|07|1931|05|15|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Rosenheim]], Bavaria, Germany | education = {{ ubl | [[Max-Reinhardt-Seminar]] | [[University of Vienna]] }} | occupation = {{ ubl | [[Stage director]] | [[Theatre manager]] }} | organizations = {{ ubl | [[Salzburger Landestheater]] | [[Staatstheater Braunschweig]] | [[Otto-Falckenberg-Schule]] | [[Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz]] | [[Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding]] | Carl Orff-Festspiele Andechs }} | awards = {{ubl | [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] | [[Austrian Decoration of Honour for Science and Art]] | [[Bavarian Order of Merit]] }} | spouse = {{plainlist| *First wife *{{Marriage|[[Cornelia Froboess]]|1967}} }} | children = 2 }} '''Hellmuth Matiasek''' ({{IPA|de|ˈhɛlmuːt ˈmatjasɛk|}}; 15 May 1931 – 7 April 2022; also spelled Helmuth)<ref name="Matiasek_Diss_1958">Helmuth Matiasek: ''Die Komik der Clowns''. (in German) Dissertation. Universität Wien, Vienna 1958, [http://katzoom.onb.ac.at/DB2/nkn/m001/z081/h065/b0806406.gif ONB]</ref><ref>Helmuth Matiasek (et al.): ''Schönbrunner Schloßtheater (…) Mittwoch, den 25. Juni 1952 (…) Freitag, den 27. Juni 1952 (…) Festvorstellung zum 100jähr(igen) Bestand der Schauspielschue Glück, Missbrauch und Rückkehr oder Das Geheimnis des grauen Hauses (…)''. Bildliche Darstellung. Elbemühl, Wien 1952. – [http://media.obvsg.at/AC10636166-4201 Image online].</ref> was an Austrian theatre and film director, theatre manager and teacher. He founded a small avant-garde theatre in Vienna at age 22. After working at the [[Salzburger Landestheater]] as stage director, he became the company's [[Intendant (theatre)|intendant]] (managing director) in 1962, then the youngest intendant in German-speaking theatre. From 1983 to 1996, he was intendant of the [[Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz]] in Munich, where he co-founded and later managed the drama school [[Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding]]. He was close to the composer [[Carl Orff]], and managed the Carl Orff-Festspiele Andechs.

== Life == === Education === Born in Vienna, Matiasek studied acting at the [[Max-Reinhardt-Seminar]] of the [[University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna]]<ref name="Grenzmann" /><ref name="Munzinger">[https://www.munzinger.de/search/portrait/Hellmuth+Matiasek/0/14625.html Hellmuth Matiasek / österreichischer Regisseur und Intendant; Prof.; Dr. phil.] Munzinger</ref> as well as [[theatre studies]], [[musicology]], [[German studies]] and philosophy at the [[University of Vienna]].<ref name="Dieckmann">{{cite web |first=Cordula |last=Dieckmann | title=Hobbyschreiner und Theatermann: Matiasek wird 80 | website=Mittelbayerische Zeitung | date=20 December 2019 | url=https://www.mittelbayerische.de/kultur-nachrichten/hobbyschreiner-und-theatermann-matiasek-wird-80-21853-art663342.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220105422/https://www.mittelbayerische.de/kultur-nachrichten/hobbyschreiner-und-theatermann-matiasek-wird-80-21853-art663342.html | archive-date=20 December 2019 | url-status=dead | language=de | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref> He completed his studies in 1958<ref name="Austria">[https://austria-forum.org/af/Biographien/Matiasek%2C_Hellmuth Matiasek, Hellmuth] on Austria-Forum</ref> with the promotion about ''Komik eines Clowns'' to [[Doctorate|Dr.phil]].<ref name="Mitteldeutsche Zeitung 2006">{{cite web | title=Hellmuth Matiasek wird 75: Tradition und Moderne | website=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung | agency = [[Deutsche Presse-Agentur|dpa]] |date=9 May 2006 | url=https://www.mz.de/kultur/hellmuth-matiasek-wird-75-tradition-und-moderne-2818731 | language=de | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Matiasek_Diss_1958"/><ref name="Biografie WHOS WHO">{{cite web | title=Hellmuth Matiasek | website=Biografie WHO'S WHO | url=https://whoswho.de/bio/hellmuth-matiasek.html | language=de | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

=== Theatre === In 1953, Matiasek founded the avant-garde student theatre ''Kaleidoskop'' in Vienna (later: ''Atelier-Theater''), and acted as its director.<ref name="Dieckmann" /> From 1960, he worked at the [[Städtische Bühnen Köln]] where [[Oscar Fritz Schuh]] was director.<ref name="ZEIT ONLINE">{{cite web |first=Johannes |last=Jacobi | title=Die Ohnmacht der Allmacht | website=[[Die Zeit]] | url=https://www.zeit.de/1967/26/die-ohnmacht-der-allmacht/komplettansicht | language=de | date= 30 June 1967 | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref> From 1962, he worked as director at the [[Salzburger Landestheater]]<ref name="br" /> He became [[Intendant (theatre)|intendant]] (managing director) of the Salzburg theatre in 1962, then the youngest person in German-speaking theatre to achieve such a position.<ref name="Dieckmann" /> Around that time, he met the composer [[Carl Orff]], whose works would be a constant in his productions.<ref name="Grenzmann" /> From 1964, Matiasek was [[general director]] of the [[Staatstheater Braunschweig]],<ref name="Austria" /> from 1978 he held the same position at the [[Wuppertaler Bühnen]], and from 1983 to 1996 he was intendant of the [[Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz]] in Munich.<ref name="Austria" /> His last stage direction there was Verdi's last opera, ''[[Falstaff (opera)|Falstaff]]''.<ref name="Mitteldeutsche Zeitung 2006" />

Matiasek was also [[artistic director]] of the {{Ill|Carl Orff-Festspiele Andechs|de}} in [[Andechs]] from 1997 to 2006. He directed all stage works for the festival dedicated to [[Carl Orff]] who is buried there, and made the event attractive beyond the region.<ref name="br" /> He was simultaneously president of the [[Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding]].<ref name="Austria" />

Matiasek worked as a guest director at several theatres in Germany and abroad, including the [[Hamburgische Staatsoper]], [[Deutsches Schauspielhaus]] in Hamburg, {{Ill|Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel|de}} in Munich, the [[Münchner Kammerspiele]], the [[Staatstheater Stuttgart]], the [[Burgtheater]] in Vienna, as well as the [[Bregenzer Festspiele]].<ref name="Biografie WHOS WHO" /><ref name="MUSIK HEUTE 2022">{{cite web | title=Regisseur Hellmuth Matiasek (90) gestorben | website=Musik Heute | date=8 April 2022 | url=http://www.musik-heute.de/23795/regisseur-hellmuth-matiasek-90-gestorben/ | language=de | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="br" /> At the [[Salzburg Festival]], he directed in 1967 Mozart's ''[[Ascanio in Alba]]'' in sets designed by [[Ekkehard Grübler]] and conducted by [[Leopold Hager]].<ref name="Festspiele">{{cite web | title=Salzburg Festival / History 1967 | website= Salzburger Festspiele Pfingsten – 7. bis 10. Juni 2019 | url=https://archive.salzburgerfestspiele.at/history/1967 | access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>

=== Teaching activities and memberships === Matiasek was director of the [[Otto-Falckenberg-Schule]] in Munich from 1972 to 1978. He co-founded the [[Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding]] in 1993,<ref name="Dieckmann" /> and became its president in 2000, after Everding's death.<ref name="Grenzmann" /> He was also involved in the [[International Theatre Institute]] (ITI).<ref name="Herbert Leclercq International Theatre Institute 2000 p. 287">{{cite book | last1=Herbert | first1=I. | last2=Leclercq | first2=N. | author3=International Theatre Institute | title=The World of Theatre: An Account of the Theatre Seasons 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 | publisher=Routledge | series=World of theatre | year=2000 | isbn=978-0-415-23866-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TG2mP5KTDn8C&pg=PA287 | access-date=9 April 2022 | page=287}}</ref> Matiasek was a member of the supervisory board of the [[Federal Theatre (Austria)|Bundestheater]]-Holding and was program advisory board of the [[European Forum Alpbach]].<ref name="Dieckmann" /><ref>{{cite web | title=Theatermacher Hellmuth Matiasek gestorben | website=[[Der Standard]] | date=8 April 2022 | url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000134806602/theatermacher-hellmuth-matiasek-im-alter-von-90-jahren-gestorben | language=de | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

=== Personal life === [[File:Wuppertal Rathaus Barmen 2013 180.JPG|thumb|Document signed by Matiasek and his wife [[Cornelia Froboess]]]] Matiasek was married from 1967, in second marriage, with the actress [[Cornelia Froboess]]. They settled in the countryside in [[Rosenheim]].<ref name="Grenzmann" /><ref name="Austria" /><ref name="Dieckmann" /> The couple had a daughter, Agnes, and a son, Kaspar.<ref name="Morgenpost">[https://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/leute/article106023860/Wunderkinder-haben-es-schwer.html Cornelia Froboess / Wunderkinder haben es schwer] (in German) ''[[Berliner Morgenpost]]'' 28 December 2019</ref>

Matiasek died in [[Rosenheim]] on 7 April 2022, at the age of 90.<ref name="br">{{Cite web |url=https://www.br.de/nachrichten/kultur/muenchner-theatermann-hellmuth-matiasek-gestorben,T2RVN7p |title=Münchner Theatermann Hellmuth Matiasek gestorben |date=8 April 2022 |work=[[Bayerischer Rundfunk|BR]] | language=de |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Grenzmann">{{Cite news | last=Grenzmann | first=Teresa |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/nachruf-auf-hellmuth-matiasek-der-kluge-praktiker-17949591.html |title= Nachruf auf Hellmuth Matiasek : Der kluge Praktiker |date=10 April 2022 |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|FAZ]] | language=de |access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>

== Publications == Matiasek wrote the libretto for a musical [[mystery play]] ''Das Salzburger Spiel vom verloren Sohn'', about the [[Parable of the Prodigal Son|Prodigal Son]], based on old sources. With music by [[Wilfried Hiller]] for soloist, choir, children's choir and instrumental ensemble, it was published by [[Schott Music|Schott]]. The world premiere at the [[Kollegienkirche, Salzburg|Kollegienkirche]] in Salzburg on 4 October 2015 was conducted by {{ill|Wolfgang Götz|de|Wolfgang Götz (Chorleiter)}}.<ref>{{Cite news |publisher=[[Schott Music|Schott]] |title=Das Salzburger Spiel vom verloren Sohn |url=https://en.schott-music.com/shop/das-salzburger-spiel-vom-verloren-sohn-no325137.html | language=de |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>

== Honours == In 1963 Matiasek was awarded the Austrian Theaterdirektoren-Preis,<ref name="Austria" /> in 1992 the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] first class and in 1993 the [[Austrian Decoration of Honour for Science and Art]];<ref name="Austria" /> in 1996 he was awarded the [[Bavarian Order of Merit]]; in 2003 he received the {{Ill|Oberbayerischer Kulturpreis|de}}<ref name="Austria" /> and in 2008 the award ''{{Ill|Pro meritis scientiae et litterarum|de}}'' of Bavaria.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=[[Augsburger Allgemeine]] |title=Frau Schilling, ganz ausgezeichnet! |url=http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/augsburg/Frau-Schilling-ganz-ausgezeichnet-id4314321.html | language=de |access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{cite web | title=Theaterregisseur Hellmuth Matiasek gestorben | website=[[Deutschlandfunk Kultur]] | date=7 April 2021 | url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/theaterregisseur-hellmuth-matiasek-gestorben-100.html | language=de | ref={{sfnref | Deutschlandfunk Kultur | 2021}} | access-date=9 April 2022}}

== External links == * {{DNB portal|123541980}} * [https://austria-forum.org/af/AEIOU/Matiasek%2C_Hellmuth Matiasek, Hellmuth] austria-forum.org * {{IMDb name|0559030}} * {{discogs artist|Hellmuth Matiasek}} * [https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13522464.html Reiche Mätresse / Statt High-Tech fördert Stuttgarts Ministerpräsident Lothar Späth neuerdings die schönen Künste.] ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' 1987 * [https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/person/gnd/123541980 Hellmuth Matiasek] deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de

{{Portal bar|Theater|Austria}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matiasek, Hellmuth}} [[Category:1931 births]] [[Category:2022 deaths]] [[Category:Austrian theatre directors]] [[Category:Austrian opera directors]] [[Category:Austrian television directors]] [[Category:Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] [[Category:Mass media people from Vienna]] [[Category:Theatre people from Vienna]]