The first two productions are Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos and Puccini's Madama Butterfly.

The programmes Ópera en minúscula (Small format opera) and Ópera barroca (Baroque Opera) are some of the novelties of this cycle.

The audience can subscribe to the season for 100 euros, and under 30s for only 20 euros.

 

Today, the Tenerife Island Council hosted the presentation of the 2024-2025 season of Ópera de Tenerife.  Five high-end subscription titles have been maintained, with traditional and new titles. The commitments to Ópera en Familia (Family Opera) and Ópera de Cámara (Chamber Opera) have been maintained. Also, new outreach projects are being launched such as Ópera barroca (Baroque Opera) and the Ópera en minúscula (Small format opera) festival, to bring opera to other parts of the island, tackle different formats and initiate collaborations with other institutions.

The island minister of Culture, José Carlos Acha, the deputy minister of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Horacio Umpiérrez, and the artistic director of the Auditorio de Tenerife, José Luis Rivero announced the details of this new series.

José Carlos Acha highlighted that "this year we have five high-level titles, and we have made progress with the baroque opera and some small format models in other spaces, closer to the spectator, with the collaboration of the Government of the Canary Islands and the National Institute for the Performing Arts and Music (INAEM)". "This information reflects months and months of work by the entire team at the Auditorio de Tenerife" stated the island minister.

Horacio Umpiérrez highlighted the level of support from the Government of the Canary Islands since the time of Socaem. He underscored that "the Tenerife Island Council and Auditorio de Tenerife took the bull by the horns when it was necessary to progress towards a different management model that could develop the discipline itself. This model has defined how the other institutions have worked, and now two models coexist naturally in the Canary Islands".

José Luis Rivero stated that "this moment is a party because it marks the start of many months of work and being able to begin selling passes". He noted that one of the objectives was "to be a catalyst for creative developments both in our area and in relationships abroad" and he stated that "the legacy of Ópera de Tenerife for the future is our commitment to contemporary creations". The artistic director of Auditorio de Tenerife also highlighted that "this season is the cheapest in all of Spain".

The five titles included in the pass are the in-house opera production Ariadne auf Naxos  by Richard Strauss (October), Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini (November), a production of the Teatro Comunale di Modena; La bella Susona by Alberto Carretero (December), a contemporary proposal co-produced between Tenerife and the Teatro de la Maestranza, Giovanna d'Arco, by Giuseppe Verdi (March), co-produced by the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, and Parsifal, symphonic-choral synthesis in three acts by Pedro Halfter (June), an adaptation of the work by Wagner for choir and orchestra.

All of these titles involve the participation of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. The Ópera de Tenerife-Intermezzo choir will participate in all the productions except the season's opening show. The performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife.

Rivero pointed out that this season "marks the culmination of the tetralogy dedicated to women in music history. This fourth year, we are offering another perspective on women's contributions”. He believes that "the aesthetic of the opera of Tenerife works in the sphere of the traditional, the contemporary, and we are broadening out towards the baroque aesthetic and the romantic Lied with different formats. In some programmes such as Ópera en minúscula (Small format opera), we count on significant assistance from the Government of the Canary Islands".

The season begins on 15, 17, and 19 October with our in-house production of the opera in a prologue and one act, Ariadne auf Naxos, by Richard Strauss. This meta-theatre, based on the mythological story of Ariadne, abandoned by her lover Theseus on the Greek island Naxos shortly after helping him to defeat the minotaur, is a testament to the skill of our cast. Commedia dell'arte characters led by Zerbinette, played by the soprano Serena Sáenz, will encourage the princess, the leading role played here by the soprano Irina Churilova, who ends up meeting the god Bacchus, who will be brought to life here by the tenor Michal König. The mezzo-soprano Na'ama Goldman will play the role of composer. The musical direction is by Diego Martín-Etxebarría, and Nicola Berloffa provides the stage direction.

One of the world's most widely performed operas, Madama Butterfly by Puccini, is coming to the Auditorio de Tenerife on 19, 21 and 23 November to move people with the tragic story of Cio-Cio-San. This geisha, played by the soprano Kristine Opolais, puts her all into her marriage with Pinkerton, an American soldier played by tenor Giorgi Sturua, who views her more as a pastime during his time in Japan than as a real partner. The maid Suzuki and the consul Sharpless will be performed by the mezzo-soprano Alisa Kolosova and the baritone Fernando Campero, respectively. Puccini's three acts of this story, celebrating its 120th anniversary, mix love, betrayal and sacrifice. The musical direction is by Ramón Tebar, while Stefano Monti provides stage direction.

La bella Susona, which takes place on 7 December, tells the story of a young Jewish woman from Seville in the 15th century. Susona, played by the soprano Daisy Press, betrayed her father, played by the baritone Luis Cansino. She reveals to her lover, a Christian knight played by the tenor José Luis Sola, the existence of a plot, in which her father was the ringleader. The members of the group of conspirators are arrested and executed. La Susona, ostracised and dejected, retires to a convent and orders to place her head above the door of her home upon her death.  Nacho de Paz will be the musical director, while Carlos Wagner will provide the stage design and playwriting.

On 25, 27 and 29 March 2025, Giovanna d'Arco, Verdi's seventh opera will come to the Auditorio de Tenerife. This work tells the story of Joan of Arc, a young French peasant girl in the 15th century who contributed to the coronation of Charles VII as king in his battle against the English invasion during the Hundred Years' War. The archangel Michael and two martyrs spoke to the young girl through visions, which provided the keys to leading battles. The cast of this production is led by two Canarian singers with internationally renowned careers: Yolanda Auyanet as Joan of Arc and Airam Hernández as Monarch. The baritone Juan Jesús Rodríguez will play the shepherd Giacomo. The stage direction of Davide Livermore will complement the musical direction by Lukasz Borowicz.

The last of the subscription titles of the season is Parsifal, a symphonic-choral synthesis in three acts by Pedro Halfter, which will take place on 28 June. After the symphonic poem Tannhäuser in 2023, the Madrid orchestra conductor is returning to Ópera de Tenerife to present a reduced version, with choir and orchestra, of a work by Richard Wagner, whom he admires. On this occasion, it is Parsifal, the magnum opus by the German composer about the life of the Arthurian knight and his quest for the Holy Grail.

The season includes a variety of shows, each offering a unique experience. Not included in the subscription, we have the Ópera en minúscula (Small format opera) programme at the La Granja Space, a production of the Auditorio de Tenerife, Teatro Extremo and the Community of Madrid. We also have Die Fledermaus (The Bat) by Johann Strauss (December), a collaboration with the Festival de Música de Canarias (Canary Islands Music Festival) and the Teatro Pérez Galdós, and Leonard Bernstein's chamber opera Trouble in Tahiti (January), a revival of the Auditorio de Tenerife production. In January-February, we present a Baroque opera in collaboration with Teatro Guimerá, accompanied by baroque recitals. In addition, we also have the family opera El retablo de maese Pedro, a puppet production by Compañía Etcétera, Teatro Real and Festival de Música y Danza of Granada, and several opera recitals by the soprano Raquel Lojendio.

Also, the partnership with Ramón Gener as ambassador of the Ópera de Tenerife is being renewed for another season through educational talks that will take place before each title to provide context and discover the musical curiosities of the piece. Ramón, who is also a writer and just published his first novel, Historia de un piano (The Tale of a Piano), is returning, accompanied by his characteristic presentations, piano, and voice. The first date with the Catalan populariser will be 10 July at 7:30 p.m. in the Chamber Hall.

For the new season, the pass for Tuesday and Thursday is 100 Euros, and Saturday is 150 Euros. Those aged under 30 still have the option to get a subscription for 20 Euros. The offer has discounts for large families, wheelchair users, and the person accompanying them. Current subscription holders can renew now, although if they want to change seats or show day, they have to wait until 14 May.  

The campaign for new subscription holders begins on 11 June, and single tickets for subscription titles -30 Euros for the shows on Tuesday and Thursday and 50 Euros for Saturday- can be purchased from 3 July onwards.

Aside from the special price, subscription holders of the Club Ópera enjoy a series of benefits:

  • They guarantee their seat from before the start of the season.
  • They are invited to exclusive events for each title.
  • They will get a free drink in the interlude of each subscription title.

On the other hand, they are sent the handheld programme via email in advance, have flexibility when making specific changes to their pass, and have a discount and preferential sale for the rest of the season's programme. They can also benefit from discounts in the store, on guided visits and in the café.

Members of the Club Ópera Joven (Youth Opera Club) enjoy some of these benefits: before the start of the season, they can choose their season for each subscription title; they receive their handheld programme in advance, and they can request specific date changes for their subscription. They also have a preferential period of sale, receive personalised assistance via phone and email, and can enjoy a discount in the café at the Auditorio.

All the information about the season and subscriptions can be found at www.auditoriodetenerife.com. The opening hours of the box office and telephone sales (902 317 327) are Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., except public holidays. The information telephone number of the Auditorio de Tenerife, 922 568 625, is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except for public holidays.