Les Arts reflects on loneliness and the fragility of human relationships in a production of ‘Così fan tutte’ adapted to the new normal
23.09.2020
- Stefano Montanari, an accomplished expert in Baroque and Classical opera, directs a cast including Federica Lombardi, Paula Murrihy, Marina Monzó, Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, Davide Luciano, and Nahuel Di Pierro.
- Silvia Costa is behind the semi-staged production, with lighting by Marco Giusti, which premieres this Sunday, September 27.
Valencia (22.09.20). The Palau de les Arts reflects on loneliness and the fragility of human relationships in a production of 'Così fan tutte' adapted to the new normal, with which the 2020-2021 season is inaugurated on September 27 in the Main Hall.
Les Arts presented this title at a press conference today, which, under the musical direction of Stefano Montanari and stage direction of Silvia Costa, stars a cast of young but experienced performers, regulars in this repertoire in the casts of the most prestigious theaters and festivals: Federica Lombardi, Paula Murrihy, Marina Monzó, Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, Davide Luciano and Nahuel Di Pierro.
The theater's artistic director, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, has highlighted the effort not only of the artistic and creative team, but also of the theater's technical, artistic and administrative team, as well as the Cor de la Generalitat and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, to launch this new production in just two weeks after the cancellation of Romeo Castellucci's stage adaptation of Mozart's 'Requiem'.
“A theater is a dynamic institution and cannot stop. It is our obligation to move forward to keep culture alive and offer citizens a space and forums for reflection and criticism with the highest safety guarantees for the public and artists.”
Violinist and conductor Stefano Montanari, a highly regarded figure in the Baroque and Classical repertoires, returns to Les Arts, where he first performed in 2006 as a soloist with the Accademia Bizantina in Martín i Soler's 'L'isola del piacere'. This time, he makes his debut on the podium with the Cor de la Generalitat and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana in a production that, as he himself notes, allows for a perfect relationship between music and stagecraft.
In terms of staging, Silvia Costa proposes a timeless vision, a symmetrical and abstract space that juxtaposes two worlds. The production, with props and costumes created by the theater's technical team, and lighting by Marco Giusti, focuses, according to the director, on "the solitude of the characters" and "the fragility of human relationships," as the musical director also points out.
Ascendant interpreters
Making her debut at Les Arts, in the role of Fiordiligi, is the rising soprano Federica Lombardi, already established despite her youth as one of the most sought-after performers, especially in Mozartian roles, in theaters such as La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera or the Munich Opera.
In the role of her sister Dorabella, mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy will perform for the Valencian public. A regular in European and American opera houses, the Irish singer is also one of Teodor Currentzis's key voices, collaborating regularly with his ensemble MusicAeterna.
Marina Monzó, from Valencia, completes the female trio as the scheming maiden Despina. The rising star, after her acclaimed performance in 'La tabernera del puerto' last season, will make her highly anticipated operatic debut at Les Arts with 'Così fan tutte'.
In the male category, the Italian baritone Davide Luciano (Guglielmo) sings for the first time in the Main Hall. Thanks to his forays into the classical and bel canto repertoire, he has emerged as one of the new talents in his vocal range, with performances in New York, Milan, Berlin, and Moscow, among other venues.
To sing the role of Ferrando, Italian tenor Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani returns to Valencia. A regular collaborator with leading experts in Classical and Baroque music such as René Jacobs, Marc Minkowski, Ottavio Dantone, and Fabio Biondi, the Les Arts audience will remember his performance in Gluck's 'Le cinesi' in 2017.
The main cast is completed by the Argentinian bass Nahuel di Pierro as the old and manipulative philosopher Don Alfonso. An accomplished Mozartian interpreter today, the Buenos Aires-born singer made some of his first professional appearances at the Palau de les Arts, with a strong presence during the theater's inaugural season.
Tickets
In addition to the premiere of 'Così fan tutte' on September 27, Les Arts has scheduled three other performances of the title on the 30th of that same month, and on October 2 and 4.
The semi-staged version of 'Così fan tutte' will last approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes and will be performed without intermission. Ticket prices for 'Così fan tutte' range from €10 to €75.
Among the activities surrounding 'Così fan tutte', Les Arts reminds us that tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23, the Aula Magistral will host a colloquium of the 'Perspectives' cycle with the protagonists of this title.
In this regard, Jesús Iglesias Noriega has pointed out that Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre will headline the second foray into the Mozartian repertoire this season with the concert version of 'Mitridate, re di Ponto' in the Main Hall on November 20.
