The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava, rises from the Mediterranean gardens of the Turia like a majestic sculpture with all its intense symbolism. Surrounded by the gardens, it is located within the larger complex of Valencia’s Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències (City of the Arts and Sciences).
Inside, its four halls have seen some of the top names in the world of opera, classical music, theatre and dance since its opening season in 2006. Of course, opera is the biggest star, performed at the Sala Principal, an impressive room with a stage so tall that you could even fit the Cathedral’s Miguelete bell tower in it! Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi’s Aida and La Traviata, Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen… all the most famous operas have taken centre stage in Valencia.
And this season, it will be no different. The pre-season starts in October with Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Le Cinesi by Gluck. But the big opening was on 9th December 2017 with the first performance of Verdi’s Don Carlo, starring none other than Placido Domingo, without a doubt one of the world’s biggest opera stars. Il Corsaro (Verdi), Tosca (Puccini), La damnation de Faust (Berlioz), La clemeza di Tito (Mozart), Peter Grimes (Britten) and Il mondo della luna (Haydn) complete the program which extends until the end of June 2018.
It is not just opera that you can enjoy at the Palau de les Arts. There is also a program of classical music concerts that, this year, includes the Brandenburg Concerts and works by Wagner and Mahler. And if you prefer dance, you can choose between a performance of Carmen by the Antonio Gades Company or a modern take on Falla’s El amor brujo by the Spanish theatrical group La Fura dels Baus.
Contact the wonderful team at The Tourist Office of Spain to make sure your visit ends on a high note!
By In Art/Music, Spain, Tourist Office of Spain, Venues Posted 1,002
