William Christie presents Handel's 'Partenope' to the Arts in a semi-staged version

Les Arts és Òpera 

• The prestigious mestre i expert händelià directs the soloists of Le Jardin des Voix 2021 and Les Arts Florissants in one of the menys conegudes works of the genius of the Baroc

• Tickets for the only performance of 'Partenope' at the Arts have a price between 24 and 60 euros

Valencia (17.10.21). William Christie returns to the Palau de les Arts with an unprecedented title for the Valencian public, 'Partenope', by Händel, which will be performed, in a semi-staged version, in the Main Hall on October 24, at 6:00 p.m.

After his successful debut in the Arts with Mozart's 'La finta giardinera', in 2019, the legendary director joined the baroque repertoire, in which he is considered one of the most reputable directors of the new generation together with the new Les Arts Florissants formation, a reference ensemble in the interpretation of baroque and classical music with antics instruments.

The respected harpsichordist, orchestra director, musician and handicraft expert recovers one of the meny operas represented by the German composer, who will perform the soloists of Le Jardin des Voix 2021, the singing academy for young artists of Les Arts Florissants, under the tutelage of mateix William Christie and Paul Agnew.

Sophie Daneman directs this semi-staged proposal, with set and costume design by Jean-Luc Taillefert and choreography by Christophe Garcia, which will premiere on August 21 at the Dans les Jardins festival by William Christie.

The lead role is sung by the Portuguese soprano Ana Vieira Leite, winner of the 2020 Froville Baroque Singing Competition. Also participating are the mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston (Rosmira/Eurimene) and the English countertenor Hugh Cutting (Arsace), the Australian tenor Jacob Lawrence (Emilio), the French-Polish baritone Matthieu Walendzik (Ormonte) and the Coruña-born countertenor Alberto Miguélez Rouco (Armindo).

'Partenope' is considered Handel's first comic opera. Through the seua captivating music, the composer addresses the embolics, the intrigues and ends and all the confusions of gender in the struggle of four pretenders for the love of Partenope, sobirana of Naples.

The excessively proud General Emilio, the melancholic but worthy Armindo and the mysterious Armenian prince Eurimene are competing for his attention. The monarch's favorite, Arsace, however, is fascinated by the woman who is going to lead him, Rosmira, who seeks disguised revenge at home.

'Partenope' was the Arts' first foray this season into baroque repertoire, which recovers its space in the programming of the Main Hall after fourteen years. In March, Andrea Marcon will direct another unreleased title, 'Ariodante', in an innovative film by Richard Jones, alongside films by David Hansen, Christophe Dumaux, Jane Archibald and Lucca Tittoto.

The prices of tickets for the only performance of 'Partenope' in Valencia range between 24 and 60 euros. Those interested in attending can purchase these locations at the theater box office, at www.lesarts.com and on the sales line at 902 202 383.

Baroque Arts and Antique Music

Així mateix, baroque music will have a special role in a new line of programming that the Arts coprodueix with the National Center for Musical Diffusion (CNDM): 'Les Arts és Baroc i Música Antiga'.

The main national groups make up this cycle, which will take place from November 24 to December 3 at the Teatre Martín i Soler. In addition to the debuts in the Arts of Carles Magraner and the new Capella de Ministrers and the also Valencian Harmonia del Parnàs by Marian Rosa Montagut, the proposals include the Accademia del Piacere under the direction of Fahmi Alqhai and La Galanía.