By Wendy Blake

One of the most audacious, death-defying feats ever, called by many the “artistic crime of the [20th] century,” will be reprised this week at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of his completely unauthorized high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Philippe Petit will traverse the nave of the massive church on a slender cable over the heads of spectators, while his buddy Sting performs (his songs will include a world premiere inspired by Petit). As always, the French-born aerialist, who turns 75 this month, will use no net or protective device.

The event—called “Towering!!”—consists of 19 scenes developed by Petit, and performances by musicians, actors, and dancers. A short film by the director of “Man on Wire,” a documentary about Petit’s adventure, will also be screened.

On Aug, 7, 1974, Petit carried out his unthinkable exploit after months of clandestine planning. He and seven accomplices figured out how to bypass security at the WTC, often in disguise, lug up hundreds of pounds of materials, and shoot a 131-foot-long steel cable across the chasm between the towers with a bow and arrow. Onlookers were astonished to see a tiny figure a quarter-mile above — walking, dancing, even kneeling and saluting them — for 45 minutes. Afterward, he was arrested but soon released, and ended up receiving a lifetime pass to the WTC Observation Deck.

Petit has walked the high wire before at the Gothic Revival cathedral (which, interestingly, is situated at one of Manhattan’s highest points). In 1980, after his initial (illicit) walk there, and subsequent arrest, he was named an artist-in-residence by the Very Rev. James Parks Morton. Petit, who retains that title, has said that the late Dean Morton “created a culture, an artistic culture and turned [St. John’s] into this center for humanitarian rights and the arts.”

If St. John’s seems like a strange place for a perilous stunt, Petit agrees. “A steel cable with a human being on it does not belong in a church,” he said in a recent interview. “But this is not a daredevil act. It is an act of poetry and art that reflects what a living cathedral should be.”

“Towering!!” will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 and 8. For ticket information, click – HERE. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at West 112th Street. Proceeds benefit its community programs and the preservation of Petit’s archives.

Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.