La Favorite: Opera Bilbao

About the Event

Step into the architectural splendor of Bilbao’s Palacio Euskalduna, where a profound opera performance promises to deepen your appreciation for the art form.

This February, ABAO Bilbao Opera presents its season's second major premiere with Donizetti's La favorite, performed for the first time in its original French version. Historically, only the Italian adaptation, La favorita, was showcased here, last appearing 25 years ago.

Donizetti's creation embodies the essence of French grand opera, featuring four acts complete with ballet, choruses, and imposing scenes, reflecting the era’s fascination with Spanish exoticism. The opera draws inspiration from King Alfonso XI of Castile’s affair with Leonor de Guzmán, mother of his nine illegitimate children, against the backdrop of his marriage to Queen Maria of Portugal, weaving a narrative filled with love, historical intrigue, power misuse, sacrifice, tragedy, and moral conflict.

The cast is comprised of exceptional talents, ideal for showcasing powerful vocal performances. Georgian mezzo‐soprano Silvia Tro Santafé stars as the tormented Leonor De Guzman tenor Ismael Jordi plays Fernand, the intricate third element of the love triangle and baritone Vladimir Stoyanov portrays the jealous King Alphonse XI. The lineup is rounded out by Simón Orfila, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, and Alba Chantar.

Under the baton of Riccardo Frizza, noted Director of the Donizetti Festival of Bergamo and recipient of the ABAO Bilbao Opera’s Tutto Verdi Award, the Euskadiko Orkestra brings life to Donizetti's score, celebrated for its melodic richness, dramatic depth, and romantic bel canto style.

The staging by debutant Valentina Carrasco, stemming from collaborations with Fondazione Teatro Donizetti and Opéra National de Bordeaux, was acclaimed by Italian critics with the 2022 Abbiati award for best production. Carrasco introduces an innovative, feminist approach, marked by elegance, ambition, and compelling historical insights.