Benvenuto Cellini
Opera in two acts Libretto by Léon de Wailly and Auguste Barbier. World premiere: 10/09/1838 at the Opéra de Paris. First performance in Spain: 15/01/1977 at the Liceu. Last Liceu performance: 20/01/1977. Number of Liceu performances: 3
A love duel between artists at the papal court
Benvenuto Cellini has been commissioned to make a sculpture for Pope Clement VII. He is in love with the beautiful Teresa and is determined to run off with her at any price. But Teresa’s fiancé Fieramosca, who is also a sculptor, is scheming to keep her and get the papal commission as well.
- Though premiered in 1838, this opera did not reach the Liceu until 1977 and has not been staged there since.
- Terry Gilliam of Monthy Python, who is also the director of films such as Brazil, brings us this classic by Berlioz in an entertaining, colourful, novel production that includes acrobats.
Music director
Josep Pons
Stage director
Terry Gilliam
Co-director and movement director
Leah Hausman
Set design
Terry Gilliam i Aaron Marsden
Costumes
Katrina Lindsay
Lighting
Paule Constable
Video
Finn Ross
Production
English National Opera (London), Dutch National Opera & Ballet (Amsterdam)
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu
Chorus director
Conxita Garcia
CAST
Benvenuto Cellini | John Osborn | 8, 10, 14, 16 and 19 Nov |
Adrian Xhema | 12 Nov | |
Teresa | Kathryn Lewek | |
Giacomo Balducci | Maurizio Muraro | |
Fieramosca | Ashley Holland | |
Pope Clement VII | Eric Halfvarson | |
Ascanio | Annalisa Stroppa | 8, 10, 12, 14 and 19 Nov |
Lidia Vinyes | 16 Nov | |
Francesco | Francisco Vas | |
Bernardino | Valeriano Lanchas | |
Pompéo | Manel Esteve | |
Innkeeper | Antoni Comas |
The production is a triumph, exuberantly colourful and inventive” (The Telegraph)
“Gilliam goes at this piece with tremendous gusto” (The Guardian)
RUNNING TIME
First act: 90 min.
Interval: 30 min.
Second act: 66 min.
Total lenght: 3 h 15 min