James Gaffigan conducts ‘Symphonic Dances’ from ‘West Side Story’ and a selection from Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

'Les Arts és Simfònic' 

James Gaffigan conducts 'Symphonic Dances' from 'West Side Story' and a selection from Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet'

• The American maestro revives 'The Dream of Eros' by Óscar Esplá for the first visit of the season to the Auditori de les Arts
• The Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana will perform this Friday two of the most celebrated creations by two essential figures of the 20th century.

Valencia (7.11.22). James Gaffigan returns to Les Arts on November 11 with a program that includes 'Symphonic Dances' from Bernstein's well-known musical 'West Side Story', and a selection from Prokofiev's ballet 'Romeo and Juliet', considered one of the most beautiful scores in the repertoire.

The musical director of Les Arts also revives, for his first subscription concert with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana at the Auditori, one of the lesser-known works of the Alicante-born Óscar Esplá, 'El sueño de Eros' (The Dream of Eros), with which he will begin this attractive symphonic evening, followed by two of the most celebrated creations of two essential composers of the 20th century: Leonard Bernstein and Sergei Prokofiev.

'West Side Story' is arguably the best-known and most beloved work of the American composer, pianist, and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Following its overwhelming success on Broadway, he extracted its musical numbers under the title 'Symphonic Dances' (1960), the orchestral suite that the OCV will perform under Gaffigan's baton this Friday. In this work, Bernstein brings together unforgettable themes from the opera, such as 'Maria' and 'Somewhere', along with Latin rhythms, jazz, and mambo, for a large orchestra.

The revolution of 'West Side Story' in the musical genre culminated a year later with the Oscar-winning film adaptation by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise of this urban and contemporary version of 'Romeo and Juliet' in New York's Upper West Side.

After the break, the resident company of Les Arts offers a selection of movements from the suites that Sergei Prokofiev orchestrated from the music for his ballet 'Romeo and Juliet', recognized today as the great masterpiece of the Ukrainian genius.

Prokofiev was the first to adapt William Shakespeare's tragedy to dance, and he left for posterity a masterful score of exceptional timbral richness, which managed to narrate without words the story of the famous lovers of Verona.

Following Friday's concert, James Gaffigan will begin rehearsals for Puccini's 'La Bohème', one of the favorite operas of the Valencian public, which will feature Federica Lombardi and Saimir Pirgu in the roles of Mimì and Rodolfo, respectively, and the Valencian Marina Monzó as Musetta in its performances at Les Arts.

Les Arts reminds everyone that tickets for the James Gaffigan concert are priced between 30 and 40 euros for the general public. Those interested can find more information on the Les Arts website.