Les Arts premieres Luisa Miller, Verdi's most intimate and romantic work, under the direction of Sir Mark Elder in a new production by Valentina Carrasco

LES ARTS ÉS ÓPERA_

• Mariangela Sicilia, one of today's great sopranos, and Freddie De Tommaso, the new "tenor of tenors", debut in the leading roles
• Luisa Miller anticipates the more psychological and human Verdi, which the Italian composer would culminate in his celebrated and acclaimed La traviata.

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía premieres the opera Luisa Miller on December 10th, delving into the most intimate and romantic repertoire of Giuseppe Verdi under the musical direction of Sir Mark Elder, in a new production by Valentina Carrasco.

In his presentation, the artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, highlighted the choice of this work, which had not been heard in Valencia since 2008, with which the Italian composer delves into his most human and psychological side, which will culminate with his celebrated and beloved La traviata

Luisa Miller also marks Sir Mark Elder's highly anticipated operatic debut with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV). Furthermore, it is the first time the British maestro has conducted this work in a staged version. An undisputed master of the Verdi repertoire, Elder has indicated that the Italian composer's work will also be a cornerstone of his tenure as principal conductor of Les Arts.

According to Sir Mark Elder, with Luisa Miller , Verdi It departs from the monumentality of his earlier works to delve into a more intimate and personal universe, demanding colors he hadn't previously used. And, in that sense, his exceptional musical quality stands out, with unforgettable moments, such as the tenor's aria "Quando le sere al placido ," "which the public will remember forever."

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 hallmark of Valentina Carrasco, whose arrival on the operatic scene has been widely celebrated for her innovative and groundbreaking approach, 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: the father-son conflict. “Two fathers who possessively love their children will cause their deaths: Walter through his ambition, Miller through a narrow-minded conception of virtue,” summarizes Valentina Carrasco.

Its staging, with set design by Carles Berga, costumes by Luciana Gutman and lighting by Antonio Castro, denounces the rigidity of social roles and the dominance of interests in the bourgeoisie of industrial society.

“The context of a factory, with its owner and its workers, offers us a

The social context is suitable for the work; what is important at a dramaturgical level is...

that is produced in that factory: dolls. Walter, in his industrial empire, has created a doll in the image of his desires and believes he has done the same with Rodolfo. Miller contributes to the manufacture of naive girls of ideal goodness, whom he would like to possess forever, like his little Luisa,” he explains.

Les Arts brings together the leading Verdi singers of the moment in Luisa Miller , among them 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, which he will sing in Vienna after Valencia.

Mariangela Sicilia has also chosen Les Arts to present the demanding role of Luisa Miller. The Calabrian soprano, renowned for her dramatic power, technique, and versatility, is one of the leading voices of our time, with repertoire ranging from Mozart and Rossini to Puccini and Verdi, as well as Baroque and French opera.

The rising baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara embodies Miller in his Valencia debut, while the prestigious bass Alex Esposito, a favorite in the Main Hall, brings to life the role of Il conte di Walter. Gianluca Buratto, another international artist closely associated with Les Arts, sings the role of Wurm. The principal sextet is completed by the Russian mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova (Federica).

Les Arts will premiere Luisa Miller on December 10, with additional performances on the 13th, 17th, 20th and 22nd. 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.