Les Arts opts for Puccini and his infallible sense of humor in ‘Gianni Schicchi’ in a double bill with Ravel’s ingenious ‘L’heure espagnole’
24.04.2025
Les Arts és Òpera
- The charismatic baritone Ambrogio Maestri, following his acclaimed 'Falstaff', stars in Puccini's opera, with Marina Monzó in the role of Lauretta
- Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, a leading duo on the European stage, invite the audience to laugh in this production directed by Michele Spotti.
Valencia (23.4.25). The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía is betting on the infallible sense of humor of Giacomo Puccini in his opera 'Gianni Schicchi' and the wit of Maurice Ravel in 'L'heure espagnole' in a new production by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier and musical direction by Michele Spotti, which premieres this Friday, April 25.
The artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, presented today this program with two small masterpieces of the comic genre, which promise an evening of laughter and fun from one of the favorite composers of the Valencian public, Giacomo Puccini, and one of his works still unpublished in the theater's repertoire.
Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, a leading duo in the European operatic scene, direct this new production by Les Arts in co-production with the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, which features set design by Alain Lagarde, costumes by Agostino Cavalca and lighting by Christophe Forey.
Their approach rejects farcical and caricatured humor to present profoundly human characters: a family torn apart by an inheritance in 'Gianni Schicchi' or a woman frustrated by her husband's impotence in 'L'heure espagnole' are, in themselves, tragedies. "But the idea that Ravel and Puccini start from is to laugh at it: therein lies all the power of these works," they explain.
According to both directors: “In the case of the meticulous colorist Ravel, in the spirit of his librettist Franc-Nohain, everything is suggested, hinted at, salacious when necessary, often poetic and even, at times, dreamlike.”
“Puccini is crueler than Ravel: his comedy is dark, ruthless, where the family, blinded by the lure of profit, instantly denies all its supposed morality. Realism prevails: a hospital room, because nowadays, that's where people often die. And we must laugh even at death.”
On the podium returns the young, but already established, Michele Spotti, acclaimed as one of the sensations on the European circuit and revelation conductor in the 2022-2023 Season of Les Arts for his memorable performances of 'Ernani' with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana.
Les Arts has assembled a cast of renowned voices from the French and Italian repertoire for both operas. Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri returns to Valencia audiences in another of his most celebrated roles, the cunning Gianni Schicchi, following his performances in 'Falstaff' and 'Nabucco'. Valencian soprano Marina Monzó, another essential artist at Les Arts, returns in the role of Lauretta.
Eve-Maud Hubeaux, one of today's most promising stars, makes her debut in Valencia with the role of the libertine Concepción in 'L'heure espagnole'.
Tenors Iván Ayón Rivas and Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, and bass Manuel Fuentes make a double appearance in this production: the young and promising Peruvian singer portrays Gonzalve and Rinuccio, while the Basque singer, a specialist in bel canto, embodies Torquemada and Gherardo. Manuel Fuentes, from Crevillent, takes on the roles of Don Iñigo Gómez and Betto di Signa.
'L'heure espagnole' / 'Gianni Schicchi' is a production by Les Arts with the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, which will be performed on April 25, 27 and 30, as well as May 2 and 4 in the Main Hall.
Les Arts commemorates with this artistic proposal two unmissable anniversaries in the 2024-2025 Season: the centenary of the death of Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937).
Les Arts reminds you that tickets for this double opera program can be purchased through the theater's various sales channels: box offices, the sales line 96 197 59 00 and its website .
OperaVision, Mezzo and Medici.tv
The recording of the performances of 'L'heure espagnole' / 'Gianni Schicchi' at Les Arts will be added to the OperaVision streaming platform's content offering starting June 13. Managed by Opera Europa, OperaVision is an open streaming platform supported by the European Union's Creative Europe funding program. Between 2025 and 2028, Creative Europe's support will help Opera Europa promote and train emerging artists working in opera and dance.
Known as Opera Europa Next Generation, this initiative will give visibility and development opportunities to more than 560 emerging artists - in person and online, including through OperaVision - and all thanks to the efforts of a consortium of 44 opera houses and talent promotion organizations from 17 European countries.
Additionally, the prestigious specialist channel Mezzo Live will broadcast 'L'heure espagnole' / 'Gianni Schicchi' on May 9th during prime time. From that same date, the paid platform Medici.tv will offer this show on demand.
