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

The production is a triumph, exuberantly colourful and inventive” (The Telegraph)

“Gilliam goes at this piece with tremendous gusto” (The Guardian)

First act: 90 min.
Interval: 30 min.
Second act: 66 min.

Total lenght: 3 h 15 min