Les Arts is preparing the premiere of ‘El tutor burlat’, by Martín i Soler, the new production of ‘Les Arts Volant’
25.06.2020
Valencia (25.06.20). The Palau de les Arts is preparing the premiere of 'El tutor burlat', by Vicente Martín i Soler, the new show of the 'Les Arts Volant' project, which will take the work of the Valencian composer to various points of the Valencian geography.
Enedina Lloris has adapted the libretto of Martín i Soler's first opera into Valencian, which is being performed in a new production by Les Arts with stage direction by Jaume Policarpo, in his first work for the opera house.
The production, as explained by the Valencian director, highlights the fresh, light and fun spirit of the young Martín i Soler with an aesthetic inspired by romantic postcards of the 19th century, with soft and pastel colors.
The set design, which he also designed himself, is “another character. It contains cheerful panels that move to create different spaces, which give rise to humor and theatrical play.”
The contrasting element is provided by the costumes, designed by José María Adame, which combine more intense colors and modern elements, highlighted by Antonio Castro's lighting.
The cast of 'El tutor burlat' features artists from the Centre de Perfeccionament: Aida Gimeno (Violante), Vittoriana De Amicis (Dona Menica), Oleh Lebedyev (Fabrizio), and Omar Lara (Pippo), along with Valencian singers David Ferri (Don Lelio) and Gonzalo Manglano (Anselmo). Carlos Sanchis, also from the Centre de Perfeccionament, will accompany the cast on piano at all performances.
'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.
The 2020 tour
'Les Arts Volant' is a project to promote opera designed and carried out by Les Arts, in which Cultura de la Generalitat, the Area of Culture of the Diputación de Valencia and the Concejía de Patrimonio y Recursos Culturales del Ayuntamiento de València collaborate for its implementation.
The tour for this year 2020 will kick off in the village of La Barraca d'Aigües Vives (June 27), followed by Sagunto (June 28), Villafranca del Cid (July 1), Potries (July 2), Godella (July 4), Alcublas (July 5), Casinos (July 8), the Palau de les Arts (July 10 and 11), La Pobla del Duc (July 15), Benirredrà (July 16), Ayora (July 18), Corbera (July 19), Gandia (July 21), Altea (July 22), Atzeneta d'Albaida (July 24) and Buñol (July 25).
After a break in August, the 'Les Arts Volant' team will resume the tour, concentrating its final performances in the neighborhoods of the city of Valencia: Benicalap (September 25), Sant Marcel·lí (September 26), Parc Central (September 27), Malva-rosa (October 2), Patraix (October 3) and Aiora (October 4).
Photo by Mikel Ponce and Miguel Lorenzo
