Plácido Domingo headlines the March and April program at the Palau de les Arts
17.03.2012
•He will conduct the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana on April 26 in a concert featuring works by Beethoven and Dvořák
•He assumed the musical direction of the last two performances of Puccini's Tosca
Valencia (17-3-2012).- Plácido Domingo, in his roles as singer and conductor, becomes the undisputed star of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía program during the months of March and April.
The Madrid-born artist is participating in the three operatic productions that fill the cultural center's program during March and April: Thaïs, Tosca , and Le Cid . Additionally, Plácido Domingo will conduct works by Beethoven and Dvořák with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana on April 26.
On March 25, Plácido Domingo adds a new role to his already impressive repertoire in Valencia. Following his foray into the baritone range with Verdi's Simon Boccanegra , he will perform for the first time as Athanaël in Jules Massenet's Thaïs , the next premiere at the Valencian arts center.
Nicola Raab directs this production from the Göteborgsopera, which transports the story of the Alexandrian courtesan to the late 19th century, the historical period in which Massenet composed the work. It is also the first of the productions with which the Palau de les Arts and the tenor, conductor, and artistic director are paying tribute to the French composer on the centenary of his death.
Patrick Fournillier will conduct this production. This marks the French maestro's third collaboration with Domingo in Valencia, following his work with him in Alfano's Cyrano de Bergerac and Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride.
Swedish soprano Malin Byström reprises her role as Thaïs, following the excellent reception she received at the premiere of this production in Gothenburg. She is joined by Paolo Fanale (Nicias), Gianluca Buratto (Palémon), Aldo Heo (Servant), Micaëla Oeste (Crobyle), Marina Rodríguez-Cusí (Myrtale), and María José Suárez (Albine). Thaïs will be performed on March 25, 28, and 31, and April 3, 12, and 15.
After portraying the cenobite monk obsessed with redeeming the dissolute Thaïs , Domingo trades the stage for the orchestra pit for the final two performances of Puccini's Tosca , on April 19 and 22. Plácido Domingo takes over from Omer Meir Wellber, principal conductor of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, who is leading the revival of this Jean-Louis Grinda production in its first five performances. Oksana Dyka (Tosca), Marcelo Álvarez and Jorge de León (Cavaradossi), and Marco Vratogna (Scarpia) head the cast.
The opera star returns to lead the Palau de les Arts' resident orchestra on April 26th, in the final subscription concert before the start of the Festival del Mediterrani. The program includes Coriolanus, Overture and Symphony No. 7 in A major by Ludwig van Beethoven, and Cello Concerto in B minor by Antonín Dvořák, with cellist Giorgui Anichenko as soloist.
Jules Massenet's opera Le Cid , in concert version, closes the sixth season at the Palau de les Arts. This work by the composer from Saint-Étienne has one of its greatest champions in Plácido Domingo. Considered by critics to be the definitive interpreter of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the tenor takes on one of the French composer's most complex works from the podium.
Jorge de León, from Tenerife, makes his debut in the demanding role of Rodrigue. The cast is completed by Ludmila Monastirska (Chimène), Hao Jiang Tian (Don Diègue), James Rutherford (The King), Felipe Bou (The Count of Gormas), and Micaëla Oreste (The Infanta). The Auditori at the Valencian arts center will host three performances of Le Cid on April 24, 27, and 30.
