The Palau de les Arts is finalizing rehearsals for Verdi's Aida

• Lorin Maazel and Omer Wellber share the musical direction of the opening opera of the 2010-2011 Season

Valencia (6.11.10).- Lorin Maazel, musical director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, leading the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, is finalizing rehearsals for Giuseppe Verdi's Aida , the opening opera of the 2010-2011 season at the Valencian arts center.

The French-American maestro shares the musical direction of Verdi's opera with the Israeli Omer Wellber, principal guest conductor of the opera house. In total, the Palau de les Arts will offer two seasons of performances of Aida .

Maazel will conduct the premiere of this new co-production with London's Covent Garden and Oslo's Den Norske Opera & Ballet on November 13, in addition to four other performances on the 19th, 22nd, 25th, and 28th of the same month. Indra Thomas (Aida), Jorge de León (Radamès), Daniela Barcellona (Amneris), Gevorg Hakobyan (Amonasro), Giacomo Prestia (Ramfis), and Marco Spotti (Il Re) will take on the principal roles on these dates.

Omer Wellber makes his debut in the pit of the Main Hall of the Palau de les Arts on December 16. The future music director of the Valencian arts center will conduct three more performances of Aida on the 19th, 23rd, and 29th of that month. Hui He (Aida) leads the cast for this second run of performances, which also includes Marcelo Álvarez (Radamès), Daniela Barcellona (Amneris), Marco Vratogna (Amonasro), Stephen Milling (Ramfis), and Marco Spotti (Il Re).

Scottish director David McVicar is behind this new production, with set design by Jean-Marc Puissant, costumes by Moritz Junge, and lighting by Jennifer Tipton. David Greeves is the martial arts director.