Palau de les Arts opens season with Bizet’s ‘Carmen’

The Palau de les Arts in Valencia has inaugurated its new season with a production of Georges Bizet’s opera ‘Carmen’. Directed by Ted Huffman, this production marks the third time the opera has been performed at the venue.

Huffman’s staging departs from traditional folkloric depictions, opting for a minimalist and essentialist theatrical approach. The set is characterized by a large, elevated red platform and a collection of wooden chairs, avoiding the typical ‘costumbrista’ or stereotypical Spanish aesthetics often associated with the work.

The performance features Vasilisa Berzhanskaya in the title role, alongside Charles Castronovo as Don José, Ruth Iniesta as Micaela, and Davide Luciano as Escamillo. The musical direction is led by Michele Spotti, with accompaniment from the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and various choral groups.