‘Les Arts Volant’ will take ‘El tutor burlat’ by Martín i Soler throughout the Valencian region

Valencia (11.06.20). 'Les Arts Volant' will take the opera 'El tutor burlat', by the Valencian composer Vicente Martín i Soler, to different towns in the Valencian region, thanks to the collaboration of the Generalitat's Department of Culture, the Culture Department of the Valencia Provincial Council and the Department of Heritage and Cultural Resources of the Valencia City Council.

The Palau de les Arts hosted the presentation of this new production today, with the presence of the Deputy for Culture of the Provincial Council of Valencia, Xavier Rius; the Councillor for Culture of the City Council of Valencia, Glòria Tello; the artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, and the stage director of 'El tutor burlat', Jaume Policarpo.

'Les Arts Volant' is a cultural outreach project launched by Les Arts, in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Valencia and the City Council of Valencia, which began in 2017. Its purpose is to bring opera to every corner of the territory, especially to those places with little musical activity or where it would be difficult to carry out a performance due to a lack of the necessary technical means or facilities.

To do this, the 'Les Arts Volant' company travels in a large truck prepared to transform into a stage upon arrival at the town square and, subsequently, offer a live opera performed by the artists of the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts, accompanied by piano.

For this fourth tour, the chosen title is the charming, elegant, sweet, and somewhat mischievous 'Il tutore burlato' by Vicente Martín i Soler, presented in its Valencian translation by Enedina Lloris. Jaume Policarpo is the stage director of this new production, with costumes by José María Adame and lighting by Antonio Castro.

As a major new development since the project began, 'Les Arts Volant' will have regional coverage, as announced by Jesús Iglesias Noriega, since the Generalitat's Culture department has included 'Les Arts Volant' within the 'reaCtivem' actions for the recovery of Valencian cultural life.

With five performances during the months of June and July in towns that have held the Valencian cultural capital status, the stage truck will visit for the first time municipalities in the Alicante and Castellón regions such as Altea and Villafranca del Cid, to fulfill the regional vocation of the project.

“After a period of digital consumption, we must remind the public of the experience of live art. We must think not only of those who can come to Les Arts, but also of those who, due to distance or circumstance, cannot. For this reason, 'Les Arts Volant' is the most powerful tool to bring opera closer to people and promote it without limitations of any kind,” added Iglesias Noriega.

The regional tour will merge with the provincial tour sponsored by the Culture Department of the Provincial Council, and will be complemented by performances at Les Arts, and later, after a short break in August, by performances in the neighborhoods of Valencia, at the suggestion of the City Council.

However, an intense cycle is planned, with up to 21 performances between the end of June and the beginning of October.

The 2020 tour

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), 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).

The Deputy for Culture, Xavier Rius, expressed his excitement at seeing the project grow and take shape, explaining that “from the very first conversations between the involved administrations to launch this project in late 2016, we knew we faced an enormous challenge: decentralizing culture and offering high-quality cultural products to every corner of our region, no matter how small. It is a task to which we must dedicate all our energy.” He also emphasized that “'Les Arts Volant' embodies the best values of Valencian creativity: a commitment to musical excellence and the visual arts as a unifying force among the Valencian peoples.”

“There is no doubt that the three administrations involved are consolidating a project that produces great satisfaction and joy wherever the 'Les Arts Volant' truck arrives,” remarked the Deputy for Culture, Xavier Rius.

For her part, the Councillor for Heritage and Cultural Resources of the Valencia City Council, Glòria Tello, also expressed her enthusiasm for 'Les Arts Volant'. “For three years we have filled the neighborhoods and corners of Valencia with a unique performance that has captivated all kinds of audiences. Our duty as those responsible for culture is to bring it closer to the public and democratize culture, especially with a project that has exceeded all our expectations.”

The city councilor emphasized that “I’ve had the opportunity to attend almost all the performances, and it’s been very moving to see the audience captivated by actors and singers who give their all.” Tello continued, “From the Valencia City Council, we strive to promote new habits of cultural consumption among our residents, and we are convinced that, once again, 'Les Arts Volant' will bring satisfaction to our fellow citizens, whom I urge not to miss this unique performance.”

The work

Les Arts is reviving the first opera written by Vicente Martín i Soler for this educational project, which, in addition to introducing opera to new audiences, will make known the figure of the most international Valencian composer of all time.

“Martín i Soler had been absent from Les Arts’ repertoire for almost ten years,” Jesús Iglesias Noriega noted. For this reason, the artistic director emphasized the importance of an initiative like 'Les Arts Volant' highlighting his work. “In the 18th century, a Valencian composer rivaled Mozart in popularity in imperial Vienna, yet he remains largely unknown to the general public, including the Valencian community. Thanks to the collaboration of the Generalitat, the Provincial Council, and the City Council, we will not only make opera more accessible to the public, but we will also showcase the cultural heritage of this region,” he added.

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.

To achieve this, Jaume Policarpo proposes a staging with an aesthetic inspired by 19th-century romantic postcards, featuring muted, pastel colors. The set design, also created by the Valencian director, is “another character. In this case, we're talking about cheerful panels that move to create different spaces, giving 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 will accompany them on piano at all performances.