Les Arts welcomes Marc Minkowski, one of the great conductors of historically informed performance, with Mozart's 'Mitridate'
23.11.2020
- The highly regarded French conductor and his period instrument orchestra, Les Musiciens du Louvre, are leading figures in this repertoire.
- Ticket prices for Marc Minkowski's debut at the Main Hall of Les Arts range from 10 to 60 euros
Valencia (11/23/20). Marc Minkowski conducts the concert version of Mozart's opera 'Mitridate, re di Ponto' at the Palau de les Arts, this Thursday, November 26 in the Main Hall.
Les Arts thus continues its commitment to Mozart as an essential composer in the artistic program, both with his most popular works and with those titles less known to the general public, by the permanent bodies of the theater or the most prestigious specialized formations.
Following the visit of William Christie and Les Arts Florissants last season with 'La finta giardiniera', Marc Minkowski and his ensemble, Les Musiciens du Louvre, present another score by the Salzburg genius, never before performed for the Les Arts audience, 'Mitridate, re di Ponto'.
Marc Minkowski is a key figure in musical performance, with a repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the modern period. A trained bassoonist, he founded Les Musiciens du Louvre at the age of 20, an ensemble now recognized as one of the most sought-after early instrument groups.
For his debut at Les Arts, Marc Minkowski conducts 'Mitridate', Mozart's first serious opera, with which the Parisian maestro maintains a close relationship and which he has conducted at the main festivals and theaters of the current scene.
Written by a young Mozart, just 14 years old, 'Mitridate, re di Ponto' was a resounding success for the Salzburg genius at its premiere at the Teatro Regio Ducal in Milan in 1770. With a libretto by Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi, based on the tragedy 'Mithridate' by Jean-Baptiste Racine, it deals with Mithridates the Great, one of the most formidable enemies of the Roman Republic.
However, the work quickly fell into oblivion and did not return to the programming of theaters and auditoriums until its revival in the 1971 edition of the Salzburg Festival, which has given it a new resurgence with Marc Minkowski as one of its main supporters.
A brilliant score brings together a solid and experienced vocal cast at Les Arts, with French soprano Julie Fuchs—sought after by Salzburg and the Paris and Vienna opera houses—in the role of Aspasia and French-Danish soprano Elsa Dreisig (winner of Operalia 2016 and Neue Stimmen 2015) as Sifares. The title role is sung by the renowned American tenor Michael Spyres, while countertenor Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian sings the role of Farnaces.
The cast is completed by the French-Cypriot soprano Sarah Aristidou (Ismene), the French tenor Cyrille Dubois (Marzio) and the mezzo-soprano Adriana Bignani Lesca (Arbate).
Please note that tickets for 'Mitridate, re di Ponto', which will be performed in the Main Hall, range from €10 to €60. For more information, please visit www.lesarts.com
Mithridates, King of Pontus
Mithridates, king of Pontus in Asia Minor, has spread the false news of his death in battle to test the loyalty of his sons Siphares and Pharnaces, which has triggered rivalry between them for power and for the love of Aspasia, Mithridates' betrothed.
Upon his return, the king discovers that Pharnaces intends to conspire against him by joining the Romans and that Aspasia and Siphares have fallen in love. Enraged, he decides on a harsh punishment for all three, but upon returning defeated and gravely wounded from another battle against Rome, Mithridates pardons the repentant Pharnaces and praises Siphares' loyalty, giving him Aspasia as his wife.
