Les Arts premieres ‘El barberillo de Lavapiés’ in a production by Alfredo Sanzol with musical direction by Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez

Les Arts és Sarsuela 

• Sandra Ferrández, Borja Quiza, Maria Miró, Javier Tomé, Abel García, David Sánchez and Ángel Burgos play the main roles
• The Main Hall hosts a new session of 'Pre-premiere until the 28th' tomorrow with this zarzuela by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri

Valencia (13.04.21). The Palau de les Arts premieres the zarzuela ' El barberillo de Lavapiés ', by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, this coming Friday, April 16, in a production by Alfredo Sanzol, with musical direction by Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez.

'Les Arts és Sarsuela' presents this season "one of the masterpieces of the genre, the result of the union of two leading names: Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, an essential figure in the history of Spanish lyric theatre, and Luis Mariano de Larra, a prominent playwright and son of the brilliant romantic columnist."

This is how Jesús Iglesias Noriega presented this title today, with which Les Arts continues its commitment to the restoration and dissemination of the Spanish lyrical heritage and its quintessential genre, the zarzuela.

At the press conference, the theater's artistic director was accompanied by Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez, musical director; Alfredo Sanzol, stage director; the Alicante-born mezzo-soprano Sandra Ferrández (Paloma) and the baritone Borja Quiza (Lamparilla).

Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez makes his debut in the pit of the Main Hall with this work. The Granada-born maestro, one of Spain's most internationally renowned conductors, stands out as one of the conductors with the deepest knowledge of the national repertoire.

Gómez Martínez, who already conducted the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana in 2018, takes the helm of the Les Arts permanent ensembles in this “authentic masterpiece, with brilliant orchestration, freshness and originality with which to reaffirm the relevance of zarzuela.”

Alfredo Sanzol presents his acclaimed and successful production for the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Valencia, which premiered in 2019. Winner of the National Dramatic Literature Prize, the Valle-Inclán Prize, and the Max Prize six times, the current director of the National Dramatic Center made his first foray into the Spanish lyric genre with this production featuring set and costume design by Alejandro Andújar, lighting by Pedro Yagüe, and choreography by Antonio Ruz, winner of the National Dance Prize.

Sanzol presents a set design composed of eight mobile elements that transform to recreate the different open and closed spaces of Madrid in 'El barberillo de Lavapiés'. In contrast, the colors, shapes, and volumes of the costumes are based on paintings from the late 18th century, and the choreography blends contemporary elements with the essence of the era.

The director and playwright also emphasizes the relevance of the story's background: "In 'The Little Barber' there is a social and political denunciation conveyed through humor and characters who find themselves immersed in a power struggle that prevents them from moving forward in their private lives."

Les Arts brings together a distinguished group of experts in the repertoire, who have already received critical and public acclaim for this same title in Madrid, Oviedo and, more recently, in Seville: Borja Quiza (Lamparilla), Maria Miró (Marquesita del Bierzo), Javier Tomé (Don Luis de Haro), David Sánchez (Don Juan de Peralta), Abel García (Don Pedro de Monforte) and Ángel Burgos (Lope).

As the main novelty in the cast, the Alicante-born mezzo-soprano Sandra Ferrández will play Paloma in Valencia, a role that makes its stage debut with this production.

Les Arts will present Barbieri's 'El barberillo de Lavapiés' on April 16, 18, 20, and 22. Tomorrow, Wednesday the 14th, the Main Hall will host a preview performance exclusively for those under 29. This is part of the theater's commitment to bringing Spanish opera to younger audiences.