Les Arts delves into Verdi's most romantic side with Luisa Miller, Sir Mark Elder's first opera in Valencia

LES ARTS ÉS ÓPERA_

• Freddie de Tommaso debuts, new “tenor of tenors”. With Mariangela Sicilia, Germán Enrique Alcántara, Alex Esposito and Gianlucca Buratto
• Valentina Carrasco directs this new production by Les Arts, made in co-production with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Valencia (29.11.25). The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía delves into the most romantic Verdi with his work Luisa Miller , which premieres on December 10 in the Main Hall under the musical direction of Sir Mark Elder in his operatic debut with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV).

The principal conductor of the OCV is currently immersed in rehearsals for this highly anticipated premiere before the Valencian public. An undisputed authority on the Verdi repertoire, Sir Mark Elder emphasizes that the composer from Busseto will be one of the cornerstones of his work with the Les Arts orchestra.

Elder points out that Giuseppe Verdi compels the conductor and the orchestra to experience the drama from within. He considers the Italian composer a master for his human and artistic qualities, whose greatness lies in his ability to move audiences with universal human stories.

Luisa Miller will be the third new production that Les Arts premieres as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations. The production, co-produced with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, bears the signature of Valentina Carrasco, one of the rising stars of the operatic scene, whose emergence has been widely celebrated for her innovative and groundbreaking work, earning her awards such as the Abbiati Prize from Italian critics.

The Argentinian director moves the action to an early 20th-century doll factory as the setting for one of the dramas that Verdi masterfully addresses in his operatic work: the father-son conflict. Through her keen eye, Carrasco denounces the rigidity of social roles and the dominance of self-interest within the bourgeoisie of industrial society.

Les Arts brings together a cast of leading Verdi singers for Luisa Miller , including the new "tenor of tenors," Freddie de Tommaso. In his first performance in Valencia, the British tenor debuts the role of Rodolfo, one of the most challenging for his voice type, and features in one of the genre's greatest moments with the well-known aria 'Quando le sere a placido'.

The complex and demanding role of the young Luisa Miller falls to Mariangela Sicilia, one of the most renowned sopranos of our time. The Calabrian singer stands out for her dramatic power, exquisite technique, and versatility, with a repertoire ranging from Mozart and Rossini to Puccini and Verdi, as well as forays into Baroque and French opera.

The rising Argentine baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara embodies Miller in his first appearance in Valencia, while the prestigious bass Alex Esposito, a favorite in the Main Hall, brings to life Il conte di Walter. Gianluca Buratto, another internationally renowned artist closely linked to Les Arts, is Wurm. The Russian mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova (Federica) completes the sixth principal role.

Les Arts will premiere Luisa Miller on December 10, with additional performances on December 13, 17, 20, and 22. Tickets for Verdi's opera can be purchased through the theater's various sales channels: box office, the sales line 96 197 59 00, and the official Les Arts website.