The Palau de les Arts premieres a new production of La Bohème faithful to Puccini's score and dramaturgy

· Turin native Davide Livermore presents a production set in the historical period of the opera by the composer from Lucca
· Israeli soprano Gal James (Mimì) and Venezuelan tenor Aquiles Machado (Rodolfo) lead the cast
· Riccardo Chailly also conducts the Cor de la Generalitat and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Valencia (28-11-2012).- The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía presents a new production of La Bohème “ faithful to the score and dramaturgy of its composer”, as announced by the musical director of this new production, Riccardo Chailly, in his debut with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV).

These words were spoken by the Milanese maestro today at a press conference, in which the Intendant of the Palau de les Arts, Helga Schmidt, Davide Livermore, stage director of this production, and the singers Gal James (Mimì) and Aquiles Machado (Rodolfo), protagonists of La Bohème , also participated.

“Riccardo Chailly, one of the greatest conductors of recent decades, is also an orchestra maker, capable of maximizing the high potential of the OCV,” Helga Schmidt pointed out.

This is the first time Riccardo Chailly has conducted an opera with a Spanish orchestra and in a Spanish theater.

The Milanese maestro returns to the operatic repertoire in Valencia after his celebrated Il Trittico by Puccini at La Scala in Milan in 2008. Chailly has worked intensively with stage director Davide Livermore on the conception of this production of La Bohème , set in the historical reality of the original libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica.

“ La Bohème ,” explains Riccardo Chailly, “doesn’t need updating, because Puccini’s genius is entirely contemporary if it is understood and interpreted as the score reflects.” “It is a Bohème ,” Chailly adds. “Visceral and romantic, with moments of nostalgia, but without falling into sentimentality or saccharine sweetness , because that is the great danger that exists when interpreting Puccini.”

For Davide Livermore, “ La Bohème is a masterpiece, a proto-film impossible to separate from its era and its score. The Turin-born director , who also designed the sets and lighting, drew inspiration from Akira Kurosawa's feature film Dreams to integrate Paolo Gep Cucco's projections into his portrayal of Paris at the end of the 19th century.

Aquiles Machado (Rodolfo), who sang La Bohème at the Teatro Principal in Valencia in 1999, returns to the city after achieving acclaim in this role at major theaters in Europe and America. The role of Rodolfo is one of the Venezuelan tenor's "favorite" roles in his repertoire, one that he "rediscovered thanks to Riccardo Chailly and Davide Livermore." "Puccini would be grateful," he adds, "to see how his music and drama are cherished at the Palau de les Arts."

Israeli soprano Gal James makes her debut in the role of Mimì. The rising star, with a distinguished career at the Graz Opera (Austria), has also performed at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin and other opera houses. For the singer, “it has been a dream to work on Puccini’s opera in Valencia, from its origins and essence.”

Helga Schmidt, for her part, highlighted that the Palau de les Arts has assembled a cast for this new production that combines emerging talent with established stars. Among these emerging talents is the Valencian soprano Carmen Romeu, who, after her debut at the Valencian arts center in Iphigenia in Tauris , now sings the role of Musetta in La Bohème .

The cast also features the voices of Italians Massimo Cavalletti (Marcello), Gianluca Buratto (Colline), Matteo Peirone (Benoît), and Polish singer Andrea Snarski (Alcindoro). Artists from the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo, Mattia Olivieri (Schaunard) and Pablo García López (Parpignol), also participate.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Riccardo Chailly also conducts the OCV and the Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana in the first concert of the season at the Valencian cultural venue with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony .

Recognized as one of the great masters of recent decades, he has recently released with Decca his 'revolutionary' complete recording of the German composer with the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester; a recording that has received critical acclaim, as well as numerous awards, including the prestigious French 'Orphée d'Or' prize for his conducting of the Ninth .

The Milanese maestro will perform this same work on December 14 and 16 at the Palau de les Arts, with soloists Julia Bauer, María José Montiel, Steve Davislim, and Rudolf Rosen. On December 19, Maestro Chailly will conduct this concert at the Alicante Provincial Council Auditorium (ADDA).

Master meeting and activities with the Centre de Perfeccionament 

         Mayor Helga Schmidt has indicated that, on the occasion of Riccardo Chailly's presentation, the Palau de les Arts has programmed a masterclass prior to the first of his concerts, in which the Milanese maestro will discuss the figure of Ludwig van Beethoven and his work with the Valencian public.

Davide Livermore will also lead a training course at the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo and will stage, for the first time, a previously unseen scene from the original libretto of La Bohème , which was not set to music by Puccini . The Turin-based stage director will also participate in a discussion about this opera.

'Arts for everyone' 

Puccini's La Bohème will premiere on December 2nd. The Valencian arts center has also scheduled additional performances of this production on the 5th, 8th, 12th, 18th, and 21st of that month. Andrea Battistoni, from Verona, will conduct the performance on the 21st.

As part of its policy to make its content accessible to all audiences, the Palau de les Arts has scheduled an extraordinary sales day, 'Les Arts per a tots', for next Thursday, November 29.

Holders of the Youth Card, the International Student Card (ISIC), the Large Family title, and people who are unemployed or have a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, will be able to enjoy a 50% discount on tickets for any of the performance days and in all areas of the capacity of La Bohème , by Puccini.