Briefing
The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia opened its 2026/2027 season on 2 October 2026 with a new production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen The production is directed by Ted Huffman; the musical direction was by Michele Spotti at the podium. According to the opera house, this is a deliberately “theatrical” interpretation: scene changes, props and costumes are handled openly and used as a visible part of the narrative, exploring themes such as desire, violence and personal freedom without nostalgic idealisation.
The cast for the premiere included Vasilisa Berzhanskaya in the title role, Charles Castronovo as Don José and Ruth Iniesta as Micaëla; Escamillo was played by Davide Luciano The production is a co-production with international partners and continues the season’s approach of presenting well-known works from the repertoire through contemporary directorial interpretations. Les Arts says the season aims to appeal to audiences and critics with a combination of established repertoire and fresh interpretations.
The run of Carmen in Valencia takes place from 2 to 15 October 2026; performances include 2, 4, 7, 10, 12 and 15 October. The work is returning to the venue’s main stage in a prominent role after several years. The artistic decision to make the theatrical process visible shifts the focus away from historical period detail and towards the mechanics of power and gender relations in the story.
Reviews of the production’s coherence, direction and vocal balance are expected in the announced local and national press coverage. For the Palau de les Arts, the season opening is strategically important: a popular title with a clear aesthetic profile raises the venue’s profile while also allowing artistic experimentation. The management describes this aim as part of the venue’s longer-term positioning in the Spanish and European opera scene.
Editor: Celestina Fuentes (Article created with AI assistance).