Les Arts delves into the repertoire of Martín i Soler with 'Il tutore burlato'

• Cristóbal Soler conducts the artists of the Center de Perfectionament and the Valencian Community Orchestra in this production by Jaume Policarpo

• The performance on November 20 will be broadcast online in an action carried out in collaboration with Turisme de la Comunitat Valenciana

Valencia (10.11.20). The Palau de les Arts delves into the repertoire of Valencian Vicente Martín i Soler with his first opera, 'Il tutore burlato', which premieres this Friday, November 13, at the Teatre Martín i Soler at 8:00 p.m.

Les Arts, as explained by its artistic director, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, is thus recovering this new production which had to be postponed last season due to the outbreak of the pandemic and which can now be seen “in its artistic and musical fullness within the commitment of the theater to restore the Valencian musical heritage”.

However, as Iglesias Noriega has pointed out, 'Il tutore burlato' was indeed performed in its Valencian-translated version, adapted to the requirements of the Les Arts Volant truck, this past summer with great success in the neighborhoods and squares of our territory.

Cristóbal Soler takes over the musical direction of the score, his first opera at Les Arts and his third work with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana after the zarzuela 'Katiuska', by Sorozábal, and the Ananda Dansa show 'Âtman, el comiat'.

In this regard, the director of Alcàsser emphasized the importance of the work, which was so successful at the time that it was translated into Spanish to become the zarzuela, 'La madrileña'. “It is also a very entertaining opera, full of freshness and energy, which is ideal for working with young singers like the artists at the Centre de Perfeccionament.”

Jaume Policarpo, also from Valencia, highlights the comical spirit of the young Martín i Soler, whom he portrays with an aesthetic inspired by the romantic postcards of the 19th century, with soft and pastel colors.

The set design, which he also created himself, is “another character. It features cheerful panels that move to create different spaces, which lend themselves to humor and theatrical play.” The contrasting element is provided by José María Adame's costumes, which combine bolder colors and contemporary elements, highlighted by Antonio Castro's lighting.

As a main novelty, Policarpo introduces the use of puppets on stage which, in this case, are handled by the singers themselves and which result in an enriching effect when it comes to conveying the story to the public.

The cast of 'Il tutore burlato' is made up of Center de Perfection artists Aida Gimeno (Violante), Ezgi Alhuda (Menica), Oleh Lebedyev (il tutore Don Fabrizio) and Omar Lara (Pippo), along with Valencian singers David Ferri Durà (il cavaliere Don Lelio) and Gonzalo Manglano (Anselmo). Carlos Sanchis, also from the Center de Perfectionament, accompanies them on the piano.

In addition to its premiere this Friday, 'Il tutore burlato' will be performed on November 20 and 22. Tickets are priced at a single rate of 35 euros.

Online broadcast

Les Arts will broadcast 'Il tutore burlato' online from its website www.lesarts.com on November 20, the day of the play's final performance.

This is the fourth title that the arts center will offer free of charge within its regular programming thanks to the collaboration with Turisme de la Comunitat Valenciana, which has allowed in previous seasons the broadcasts of operas such as 'Lucrezia Borgia', by Donizetti; 'Le cinesi', by Gluck; and 'Il corsaro', by Verdi.

'Il tutore burlato'

'Il tutore burlato' is an opera buffa in three acts, with a libretto by Filippo Livigni based on 'La finta semplice ossia Il Tutore Burlato' by Pasquale Mililotti.

Jovial and fresh like the landscape of the Roman countryside where its plot takes place, this first comedy by Martín i Soler evolves from veiled criticism of the rigid social norms established in the mid-18th century towards the defense of freedom and love above convention and convenience, while at the same time exposing with cordial clarity the new social positioning of women in the years prior to the French Revolution.

The intrigue begins when the gentleman Don Lelio confesses to his servant Anselmo his love for Violante, the ward of his friend Fabrizio, who longs to marry her for her money, though the young woman despises him. Don Lelio asks to court her, and Fabrizio reluctantly agrees. Violante boasts of not believing in love until she meets Pippo, a wealthy shepherd from her village.

The three men, each in their own way, employ a series of intrigues, jealousies, and deceptions to win the girl's heart. Finally, a spark ignites between Pippo and Violante, who, with the help of Menica—the tutor's daughter—manage to teach the other two suitors a lesson. They all reunite at last and sing of love's triumph.