Organization

Singer

Soprano

Cristina Gallardo-Domâs

Salud

Tenor

Jorge de León

Paco

Mezzo-soprano

Sandra Ferrández

Carmela

Conductor

Lorin Varencove Maazel

Stage director

Giancarlo Del Monaco

Bass

Felipe Bou

Uncle Savaor

Isaac Galán

Manuel

Costume designer

Jesús Ruiz

Choreographer

Goyo Montero

Lighting designer

Wolfgang von Zoubek

Set designer

María Luisa Corbacho

Grandmother

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

Orchestra

Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana

La vida breve -  (Life is Short)

Valencia

Spain

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

Auditori

La vida breve, an Andalusian opera in two acts written by Manuel de Falla on a libretto by Carlos Fernández Shaw, staged by Giancarlo del Monaco at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, in Valencia.

It is without any doubts one of the greatest operas written in Spanish, La vida breve merges with Spanish Zarzuelas, lyric genre of the 17th century. The opera tells the story of a poor gypsy, Salud, and her lover, Paco, secretly engaged to a rich young woman. Shattered by such lies, Salud decided to go to the wedding ceremony.

This verismo opera combines different styles, from the Spanish drama and its flamenco to the classical drama reminding us of Puccini's writting and wagner's orchestration. Andalusian songs remain the most significant influence of the work.

This Giancarlo del Monaco production offers an incredible casting, with Chilean Soprano Cristina Gallardo-Domâs, specialist of Puccini's work and known for her remarkable impersonation of Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. Not only is she greatly influenced by Puccini but her flamenco singing is also marvellous. Tenor Jorge de León plays Paco, with is powerful voice and charisma

Life is Short by Falla, From (2010/2010), Directed by Giancarlo Del Monaco,, Conductor Lorin Varencove Maazel, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, Spain

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues