Les Arts proposes a journey through the different ‘Poetics of Destiny’ through 12 opera and zarzuela titles

• There will be 10 previously unreleased titles and four new productions by Christof Loy, Rafael Villalobos, Jetske Mijnssen and Carles Alfaro
• On the podium: James Gaffigan, Mikko Franck, William Christie, Vasily Petrenko, Gustavo Gimeno, Cornelius Meister, Mark Elder, Gianluca Capuano and Pablo Heras-Casado

• Javier Camarena, Ermonela Jaho, Arsen Soghomonyan, Roman Burdenko, Elena Guseva, Carlo Vistoli, George Petean and Carlos Mena debut

Valencia (June 2, 2022). Les Arts proposes a captivating journey through the diverse 'Poetics of Destiny' via the 12 opera and zarzuela titles that make up the 2023-2024 lyric season. The theater's eighteenth season, which will begin on September 1 and run until June 30, 2024, offers its most ambitious and varied program to date.

In total, there will be four dance performances, eight symphonic programs, four Baroque music concerts, five evenings of 'Lied', three recitals by the greatest voices of the moment, five sessions with the most representative figures of flamenco, two stars of the international scene to illustrate world music and five representatives of the most current Valencian music, in addition to a rich offer for all citizens in 'Les Arts és per a Tots'.

Once again, as part of its commitment to a regionally focused program, the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and its principal conductor, James Gaffigan, will be in charge of inaugurating the program with a series of concerts from different auditoriums in the Valencian territory: Cullera, on September 1; Altea, on the 2nd; Gandia, on the 3rd, and Torrevieja, on the 9th, to present themselves to the public of València on September 10, at the open house.

Fate, in its multiple interpretations, forms the backbone of each of the 12 lyrical quotes: the uncertain fate in the feminist plea of 'Woman at Point Zero', or in Tchaikovsky's masterful 'The Queen of Spades'; fate and its historical perspective in a new chapter of the 'Tudor Trilogy' in 'Maria Stuarda' or in the zarzuela 'Pan y toros'; the fate of unwanted consequences in the exuberant 'Rusalka', and the radiant beauty of 'Orfeo ed Euridice'.

Like the inexorable fate in the multifaceted and fascinating 'Die Zauberflöte' or the implacable fate in one of Verdi's most complete and appreciated operas: 'Un ballo in maschera'; fate experienced as a condemnation and a punishment in 'Tránsito', or its joyful and playful vision in 'The Fairy Queen'.

'Les Arts és Òpera' will be a complete journey through the history of the operatic genre, the Baroque in its manifestations in Spain ('Los elementos') and England ('The Fairy Queen'); classicism ('Orfeo ed Euridice' and 'Die Zauberflöte'); bel canto ('Maria Stuarda'); Spanish musical nationalism ('El retablo de Maese Pedro', the first opera for children in the Main Hall) and Czech nationalism ('Rusalka'); Russian romanticism ('La dama de picas') and Italian romanticism ('Un ballo in maschera'), as well as the most contemporary creation in the international ('Woman at Point Zero') and national ('Tránsito') spheres.

Ten unreleased titles that will bring together the most sought-after names in the scene: Richard Jones, Christof Loy, Robert Carsen, Jetske Mijnssen or Simon McBurney.

Four new productions: 'Maria Stuarda', 'Rusalka' and two of them with their absolute premiere at Les Arts: 'Tránsito', in a production by the Valencian Carles Alfaro, and 'Un ballo in maschera', in the vision of the young Sevillian director Rafael Villalobos, with a clear international projection.

Veteran actors and rising stars make up the casts, with excellence as their common value. The exquisite Doris Soffel will share the stage with renowned experts such as Arsen Soghomonyan, Elena Guseva, and Roman Burdenko in 'The Queen of Spades,' just as Stephen Milling's powerful Sarastro will serve as a guide for the promising Giovanni Sala and Gyula Orendt.

The 'Tudor Trilogy' continues with its already established trio of leading singers: Eleonora Buratto, Silvia Tro Santafé, and Ismael Jordi. A quartet of stars will complete the final major Verdi opera, never before performed at Les Arts: Anna Pirozzi, Francesco Meli, George Petean, and Marina Monzó. Leading singers in each of the operas will perform for the first time at Les Arts, such as countertenor Carlo Vistoli in Orfeo and the captivating Olesya Golovneva in Rusalka. For the quintessential Spanish genre, two of its most sought-after performers will take the stage: Ruth Iniesta and Borja Quiza.

Stars of opera will headline the performances dedicated to the voice. The Lied cycle will feature André Schuen's highly anticipated recital with the OCV, conducted by Anna Suškowska-Migoš, as well as new performances by Lise Davidsen and Ekaterina Semenchuk, along with two top-tier debuts, Gerald Finley and Ermonela Jaho. The 'Les Arts és Grans Veus' program also stands out with three unmissable events: Javier Camarena's season debut at Les Arts, and appearances by two great countertenors: Jakub Józef Orlišski and Philippe Jaroussky, in addition to the Spanish tenor Carlos Mena in the Baroque cycle.

Under the guidance of James Gaffigan, music director of Les Arts and a leading figure in opera and symphonic programming, the Cor de la Generalitat and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV) will once again collaborate with leading international conductors. William Christie, Cornelius Meister, Gianluca Capuano, Maurizio Benini, and Antonino Fogliani will lead the orchestra pit, alongside prominent Valencian conductors such as Jordi Francés and Pablo Rus Broseta.

In 'Les Arts és Simfònic', the most renowned orchestra conductors will once again showcase the quality of the OCV with new appearances on the podium by Gustavo Gimeno, Mark Elder, Vasily Petrenko and Pablo Heras-Casado, in addition to the OCV's first concert under the direction of Mikko Franck, one of the most sought-after conductors today.

The third edition of 'Les Arts és Barroc i Música Antiga', in collaboration with the National Center for Musical Diffusion, brings together the most respected performers in this repertoire: Forma Antiqva, La Ritirata, the countertenor Carlos Mena and the Valencian group La Dispersione.

'Les Arts és Dansa' maintains its core programming, spearheaded by undeniable Valencian talent, with Sol Picó and 'Malditas plumas' (Damn Feathers), and Marcos Morau presenting 'Afanador' (Pimp) for the Spanish National Ballet. Spanish dance will be represented by the Antonio Najarro Company and 'El Contrabandista' (The Smuggler), and the classical repertoire by the Czech National Ballet with 'La Sylphide'.

Les Arts will once again showcase diverse vocal expressions, featuring flamenco artists such as Vicente Amigo, Kiki Morente, Vicente Soto 'Sordera' & Lela Soto, María Toledo, and José de la Tomasa; as well as Carminho and Brad Mehldau in the section dedicated to other musical genres. The Valencian music scene will be represented by Santero y Los Muchachos, Noelia Llorens 'Titana', Àlex Blat, Margarita Quebrada + Xenia, and Sandra Monfort.