Philippe Petit Recreates High-Wire Walk Between World Trade Center’s Twin Towers On 50th Anniversary

NEW YORK — Philippe Petit repeated his famed high-wire walk between the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Centre 50 years later, this time at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, roughly 7 miles north of the trade center.

The 74-year-old artist aimed to honor the “glorious days of the twin towers” rather than their tragic end in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.

Petit | AP News Image

Philippe Recreates High-Wire Walk Between World Trade Center’s Twin Towers On 50th Anniversary

“I don’t have to remind people of the doomed day,” Philippe told The Associated Press following his performance on Wednesday.

Philippe stated that he wanted to honor his exceptional achievement and the towers’ heritage.

“It lends a certain meaning when you discuss a legend or a piece of history, even if the subject of that history is no longer present. “That is the miracle of memory,” Philippe explained.

The performance, “Towering!!,” depicted Philippe’s unauthorized promenade between the towers on August 7, 1974. After going to his perch inside the church and meditating on the day’s events, Petit went to the wire while Grammy-nominated jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen played underneath him.

As Philippe resumed his brave trek, Sting joined the stage and sang “Fragile.” Later, Petit wore a sequined gold tunic as “Fields of Gold” played in the backdrop.

Petit | AP News Image

Petit used the breathtaking visual and aural splendor of the world’s biggest Gothic cathedral to replicate the majesty of his historic walk 1,300 feet (400 meters) above the ground. Petit created and produced the play, which featured a sequence of short scenarios depicting his 1974 feat.

Petit was captured after crossing the towers, as depicted in the play, which continues for a second night on Thursday.

At one point during the concert, when reminiscing on the success of the Oscar-winning documentary “Man on Wire,” which documented his legendary walk, Philippe revealed that he handled fame terribly, including alienating himself from his friends.

Petit | AP News Image

Philippe Recreates High-Wire Walk Between World Trade Center’s Twin Towers On 50th Anniversary

“I was really bad to my best friend Jean-Louis Blondeau, who has been the mastermind more than me on this adventure,” Philippe told me.

Following the performance, Philippe received a proclamation from New York City Mayor Eric Adams naming Philippe Petit Day.

Philippe has been an artist in residence at St. John the Divine for over 40 years, performing 23 times to benefit the church.

SOURCE | AP