| Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía | |
|---|---|
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 Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, Spain, photographed at night with the city in the background | |
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| General information | |
| Type | Arts complex |
| Location | Valencia,Spain |
| Opened | 8 October 2005 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Santiago Calatrava Valls |
| Main contractor | Dragados andNecso |
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (Valencian:Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia,Spanish:Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofía; anglicised as "Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts")[a] is anopera house, performing arts centre, and urban landmark designed bySantiago Calatrava to anchor the northwest end of theCity of Arts and Sciences inValencia,Spain.[1] It opened on 8 October 2005; its first opera staging was ofBeethoven'sFidelio on 25 October 2006.Tenor andconductorPlácido Domingo has maintained a special relationship with the Palau since its founding and has established a young singers training program there.[2]
Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts is the last major structure built of a grandCity of Arts and Sciences concept designed by the Valencia-born and internationally knownarchitectSantiago Calatrava, which began in 1995. The building was constructed by a joint venture ofDragados andNecso.[3] It was opened officially on 8 October 2005 by Queen Sofía of Spain.[4]
The building rises 14 stories above ground and includes three stories below ground. Its height is 75 metres (246 ft), being the tallestopera house in the world.[5] Under the metallic, expansive curved-roof structure, 230 m (755 ft) in length, the 40,000 m2 (431,000 sq ft) building contains four auditoriums:
From its inception in 2005 until early 2015, administration of the company was under the General Directorship of Helga Schmidt, formerly of London'sRoyal Opera House from 1973 to 1981. Schmidt attracted some major artists to be involved with the Palau. Among them isZubin Mehta, who leads an annual music and opera festival, theFestival del Mediterráneo, which began in 2007; the lateLorin Maazel, who became music director of the company before his death; andPlácido Domingo, who brought hisOperalia competition to the Palau in October 2007,[7] and performs there regularly (Cyrano de Bergerac in 2007,Iphigénie en Tauride in 2008,Die Walküre in 2009, etc.). He has appeared with the company every season since its creation.[2]
The resident orchestra at the Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts is theValencian Community Orchestra. The theatre's first season was dated, 2006–2007. During the first and second seasons the theatre staged seven or eight operas per season, as well as an operetta, azarzuela, and vocal recitals. During the 2008–2009 season theatre staged seven operas and one zarzuela, in performances that mainly conducted byLorin Maazel. Soloists includedPlácido Domingo,Christopher Ventris,Vittorio Grigolo,Maria Guleghina, andCristina Gallardo-Domâs. The 2008-2009 Festival del Mediterrani included the completeDer Ring des Nibelungen cycle conducted byZubin Mehta, again with Plácido Domingo.
The Queen Sofía company promotes symphonic concerts, opera galas, and vocal recitals.[8] The company also hosts the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo, an advanced training program of international draw for young opera artists, named in honor of Plácido Domingo.[9] The program is run under the famous tenor's aegis.[10]
On 21 January 2015, Spanish police arrested the company's general director, Helga Schmidt, for alleged financial irregularities at the house. She was relieved of her duties with the company on the same day.[11] Davide Livermore has since assumed Schmidt role as general director.[12] In March 2015, the company appointedRoberto Abbado andFabio Biondi as joint music directors.[13]
39°27′28″N0°21′20″W / 39.45778°N 0.35556°W /39.45778; -0.35556
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