The first two productions, ˋThe House of Bernarda Albaˊ and ˋAttilaˊ, go on sale on 26 July

 

 

Enrique Arriaga, councillor of culture, and Alejandro Krawietz, director of culture of Tenerife's Island Council, have presented the season 21-22 of Opera de Tenerife. The programmed productions are The House of Bernarda Alba, Attila, Francesca da Rimini, The old maid and the thief, Florencia in the Amazon and The Tales of Hoffmann. These six lyric events take place in the Auditorio de Tenerife between October 2021 and April 2022. During this season, 'The old maid and the thief' and 'Florencia in the Amazon' will be staged in Spain for the first time.

Enrique Arriaga explained that "this new proposal offers classic librettos that will go hand in hand with contemporary works, some of which will be seen for the first time in our country". He also advanced that "tickets for the first two operas go on sale on 26 July". 

As he stressed, "we advance the entire season programme so that more spectators can join in; however, the sale will be gradual to adapt the shows to the permitted capacity". Arriaga declared that the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra plays during all productions, except for 'The old maid and the thief', where Javier Lanis, pianist and conductor, provides his music.

Alejandro Krawietz stated that "this season gathers the history of Opera de Tenerife since its beginnings in a consistent manner. It also opens up new territories to investigate contemporary and Spanish titles." The director of culture highlighted that the season begins with ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’, "an operatic version that adapts Lorca’s classical universe; whereas ‘Attila’, by Verdi, was composed during his first creative phase, clearly nationalistic." He also emphasised the opera 'Florencia in the Amazon', by Daniel Catán. With this piece, Opera Tenerife includes lyrical work from Latin America". "This programme explores modernity without renouncing classic titles", stated Krawietz.

The season starts with ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’, by Miguel Ortega. This contemporary Spanish opera with a libretto by Julio Ramos will be featured on the 19, 21 and 23 October in the Symphony Hall. It was premièred in Romania in 2007 and presented in Spain during the Peralada and Santander Festivals. The symphony orchestra format -the same that will be shown in Tenerife - was then chosen. The composer also adapted the format to chamber orchestras, a format which was chosen by the Teatro de la Zarzuela in 2018.

The production, by Auditorio de Tenerife, will be conducted by Ortega; the opera stage director will be Silvia Paoli, who recently signed for Lucrezia Borgia. Agnese Rabatti is the costume designer and Marie Lambert the lighting designer. 

The mezzo-soprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera, who recently performed during the Canary Islands Music Festival with Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, will play the matriarch Bernarda Alba, as she already did in the chamber version at the Teatro de la Zarzuela. Regarding the daughters, Adela will be played by the soprano Carmen Acosta, Martirio by Beatriz Lanza, Amelia by the mezzo-soprano Marina Rodríguez-Cusí, Magdalena by the mezzo-soprano Belén Elvira and Angustias by the soprano Melody Louledjian. The baritone Luis Cansino plays once more the role of Poncia, the housekeeper. The soprano Carmen Mateo will be one of the servants, and the actress Marga Arnau will be María Josefa.

‘Attila’, by Giuseppe Verdi, is the second opera programmed for this season. This classical piece will be featured on 23, 25, and 27 November with music by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. This ninth opera of Verdi with a libretto by Temistocle Solera has three acts preceded by a prologue. Premièred during the mid-19th-century, this proposal presents the history of Attila, king of the Huns, and his relationship with Odabella. The staging moves away from the traditional features of this title but retains the spirit of Verdi's work.

Co-produced by Auditorio de Tenerife and Teatro Reggio di Parma, Christopher Franklin is the musical director and Andrea de Rosa is the stage and set director. Alessandro Lai is the costume designer and Pasquale Mari the lighting designer.

Regarding the roles, the Croatian bass-baritone Marko Mimica will play Attila, the warrior, whereas the Uruguayan soprano María José will play the young Odabella. Ezio will be played by the baritone Alfredo Daza, Foresto by the tenor Antonio Poli, Leone by the bass Rocco Cavaluzzi and Uldino by the tenor Javier Palacios.

 

Francesca da Rimini, a concert version by Saverio Mercadante, is the non-staged proposal for this season, which will take place on 11 December in the Symphonic Hall. Based on the story of the Italian noblewoman who inspired Dante's Divine Comedy, this is a two-act opera with a libretto by Felice Romani. Although it was composed in 1830, its world premiere had to wait almost two centuries.  

Opera de Tenerife will be conducted by Alessandro Palumbo, with soprano Beatriz de Sousa as Francesca, mezzo-soprano Nozomi Kato as Paolo, tenor David Astorga as Lanciotto and bass Francesco Leone as Guido.

The chamber opera 'The Old Maid and the Thief' will be the first that will take place in 2022: on 22, 23, 29, and 30 January 2022. The title was commissioned by the American NBC radio station to the musician Gian Carlo Menotti, who also wrote the libretto. It was premièred on the radio in 1939 to great acclaim. It was later adapted by Menotti for the stage, a version that was first performed in Philadelphia in 1941. The musical direction will be in charge of Javier Lanis. The aim is that all 4 roles are performed by singers from the Canary Islands; so far, the presence of the soprano Candelaria González and the baritone Fernando García-Campero has been confirmed.

On 22, 24, and 26 March, 'Florencia in the Amazon' will be performed. Through this proposal, Opera de Tenerife introduces Latin American compositions. This title is programmed for the first time in Spain after an extensive tour around opera houses in America and two appearances in Europe (Germany and Switzerland). Created by the Mexican composer Daniel Catán, with a libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain, it was premièred in 1996. The story is about different ways of experiencing love through a boat trip on the Amazon.

The musical direction will be by Pedro Halffter and the stage direction by Chía Patiño. It will be produced by Auditorio de Tenerife with set design by Izmir Ickbal, costumes by Felipe de Lima, and lighting design by Jax Messenger.

The leading role, that of Florencia Grimaldi, will be played by Sandra López, a Cuban-Ecuadorian soprano. The Brazilian soprano Lina Mendes will be Rosalba, the Canary Islands-born tenor Airam Hernández will play Arcadio, the Argentinian mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Barrientos will play Paula and the bass Alejandro López will be the captain.

'The Tales of Hoffmann', produced by Auditorio de Tenerife and premièred in 2017, is the operatic family proposal during this season. It will return to the Symphonic Hall on 23, and 24 April. Rubén Díez will be the musical director and Raúl Vázquez the stage and set designer. Leo Martínez will be the costume designer and Miguel Ponce the lighting designer.

It is a three-act opera, with music by Jacques Offenbach and a libretto by Jules Barbier. It is based on a play that Barbier and Michael Carré wrote about the stories of Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann. This title was first performed at the Opera-Comique in Paris in 1881.

As a result of the health crisis and the changing security measures that depend on the alert levels, tickets will be sold gradually. In this way, the first two, namely, 'The House of Bernarda Alba' and 'Attila', will be the first to be released in a pack that will have a discount for the 19-20 season subscribers. Ticket prices for these two titles range from 20 to 70 Euros for the general public, and sales will begin on 26 July. The Island Council maintains the price of 5 Euros for young people under 30 years of age, and also offers special discounts for the unemployed, large families, and season ticket holders of the 19-20 season.  

Tickets can be purchased until one hour before the show on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com and by dialling the phone number 902 317 327 from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During the purchase process, the user will have to choose between one or two pre-set seats distributed throughout the hall. In August only web sales will be available.

By purchasing tickets, you accept the measures implemented by the cultural centre to combat Coronavirus, such as the correct use of masks and attendance at the event only with people you live with. All of the measures, as well as the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme certified by AENOR, can be consulted on the Auditorium’s website.

This season is an initiative of the Island Council. It is managed by the Auditorio de Tenerife with the participation of Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, supported by INAEM , Ministry of Culture, by the Canary Islands Institute for Cultural Development, Canary Islands Government.

 

Season calendar:

Title: The House of Bernarda Alba

Dates: 19, 21, and 23 October

Title: Attila

Dates: 23, 25, and 27 November

Title: Francesca di Rimini

Dates: 11 December

Title: The old maid and the thief

Dates: 22, 23, 29, and 30 January

Title: Florencia in the Amazon

Dates: 22, 24, and 26 March

Title: The tales of Hoffmann

Dates: 23, and 24 April