Les Arts presents zarzuela with ‘Pan y toros’, with musical direction by Guillermo García Calvo and stage direction by Juan Echanove

Les Arts ès Sarsuela

• Ruth Iniesta, Carol García, Borja Quiza and Enrique Viana lead the large cast of a work, “on par with the best bel canto”, according to García Calvo
• Echanove made his debut as a director of lyric theater with this production that celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of the Madrid-born composer.

Valencia (29.10.23). The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía renews its commitment to zarzuela with 'Pan y toros', by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, which will be performed from November 4 to 12 in the Main Hall.

The artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, presented this production by the Teatro de la Zarzuela at a press conference today. The production, with musical direction by Guillermo García Calvo and stage direction by Juan Echanove, commemorates the bicentenary of the birth of the Madrid-born composer.

“Asenjo Barbieri is one of the great authors of the genre, who already received an excellent reception from the public at Les Arts with the premiere of 'El barberillo de Lavapiés' in 2021. 'Pan y toros' is one of his essential zarzuelas, a complex work, which we present with the best artistic resources to commemorate this anniversary.”

Guillermo García Calvo, current director of the Teatro de la Zarzuela, reunites with the Cor de la Generalitat and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, following their acclaimed 2019 performances of 'La tabernera del puerto'. The most Viennese of Spanish conductors, with over 200 opera performances at the Vienna State Opera, also led the production's Madrid premiere.

García Calvo believes that 'Pan y toros' will be a "great discovery for the Les Arts audience." "It's a very elaborate score, full of musical richness, full of concerted passages, duets, the role of the chorus is fantastic... I think it's perhaps Barbieri's most complete work, which, in many cases, is on par with the best 'bel canto' of the Donizetti era," the Madrid-born conductor emphasizes.

Juan Echanove made his debut as a director of lyric theater with this new production of 'Pan y toros', "one of the great titles of Spanish lyric theater," according to the actor, who has already received applause from the public and critics for his performances at the Teatro de la Zarzuela and Campoamor in Oviedo.

Echanove, who in recent years has begun to develop his facet as a director of prose theater, dedicated two years to the preparation of his first zarzuela, for which he has had a creative team "with the best collaborators": Ana Garay (set design and costumes), Juan Gómez Cornejo (lighting), Manuela Barrero (choreography) and Álvaro Luna with the collaboration of Elvira Zurita (video).

“‘Bread and Bulls’ is a story of spies and intrigue. Spain is a story of spies and intrigue… palace intrigues and popular intrigues. Small stories that together make up the Great History of Spain. Barbieri, imbued with the grandeur of Beethoven, composed this musical gem. Picón wove it together with fine threads of verse, distilling history, humor, and truth,” he says.

Les Arts brings together a cast of leading voices from the national circuit. Returning are Ruth Iniesta (Doña Pepita), one of the most beloved sopranos among Valencian audiences for her work in 'Il viaggio a Reims', 'Doña Francisquita', 'Pagliacci' and 'Don Giovanni', and the baritone from A Coruña, Borja Quiza (Captain Peñaranda), who triumphed in the 2021 performances of 'El barberillo de Lavapiés'.

They are accompanied by outstanding performers such as the rising Barcelona mezzo-soprano Carol García (The Princess of Luzán), the multifaceted Madrid tenor Enrique Viana (Abbot Ciruela), the outstanding actor Pedro Mari Sánchez (The Corregidor Quiñones) or the Valencian soprano Amparo Navarro (The Duchess).

Milagros Martín (La Tirana), José Julián Frontal (Goya), Pedro Mari Sánchez (El corregidor Quiñones), Carlos Daza (Pepe-Hillo), Pablo Gálvez (Pedro Romero), Tomeu Bibiloni (Costillares), Pablo López (El general), Alberto Frías (El santero), Ángel Burgos (Jovellanos), Lara Chaves (La madre, ciega), Marcelo Solís (El padre, ciego) and Julen Alba (El niño, ciego) complete the cast.

Les Arts has scheduled four performances of 'Pan y toros' from November 4th to 12th, in addition to the 'Premiere for those under 29 years old', which will take place this Thursday, November 2nd.