Omer Meir Wellber makes his debut as principal guest conductor at the Palau de les Arts
13.12.2010
• Jorge de León replaces Marcelo Álvarez in the role of Radamès. The Argentine tenor withdraws for “personal reasons”.
Valencia (13.12.2010).- Next Thursday the 16th, Omer Meir Wellber makes his debut as principal guest conductor of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía with the second series of performances of Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, the opening opera of the 2010-2011 Season.
The Israeli maestro, who will conduct a total of four performances on December 16, 19, 23 and 29, takes over from Lorin Maazel, whom he will succeed in the 2011-2012 season as musical director of the Valencian arts center.
Chinese soprano Hui He (Aida) headlines the cast for these performances. Tenerife-born tenor Jorge de León (Radamès) replaces Marcelo Álvarez, who has cancelled his participation in this production "for strictly personal reasons." The Argentinian tenor stated that he "deeply regrets not being able to participate in this production, while reiterating his great appreciation for the Palau de les Arts and the Valencian public, who have always supported me." Marcelo Álvarez will return to the Valencian arts center next May to sing the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca, as part of the 4th Festival del Mediterrani.
Mezzo-soprano Daniela Barcellona and bass Marco Spotti reprise their roles as Amneris and Il Re, respectively, while Marco Vratogna (Amonasro) and Stephen Milling (Ramfis) join the cast.
Aida is one of Omer Meir Wellber's favorite operas. His success with La Scala's resident orchestra in memorable performances of Verdi's classic provided the definitive boost to the young conductor's career.
Following his first concert with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana in April of this year, Maestro Wellber returns to Valencia after his successful debut with Strauss's Salome at the Saito Kinen Festival in Japan, at the invitation of Seiji Ozawa. Furthermore, last October, the future music director of the Palau de les Arts led the Staatskapelle Dresden, the oldest orchestra in the world, in a highly acclaimed performance of Strauss's Daphne, which earned him unanimous praise from German critics.
