Opera and operetta headline Girona theatre programme for 2012’s first half

Girona (ACN)-. Opera and Spanish-style operetta (zarzuela) dominate the first semester programme of the Teatre Municipal de Girona (Girona’s municipal theatre) this winter-spring season.  Puccini’s ‘La Bohème’, Verdi’s ‘Aida’ and two zarzuelas respond to public demand for more classical-based shows. Up until the summer, 26 mime, circus, dance, lyric music and theatre shows are on offer. The Mayor of Girona, Carles Puigdemont, emphasised the quality of the programme as well as the balance between tradition and innovation. He also added that in Girona “there is top quality theatre all year long”.

The new feature of this year’s show is the increase in the number of lyrical shows. According to organisers, they respond to audience demand. The director of the Girona municipal theatre explained that more than 100 tickets have already been sold for every show, a reassuring statistic given that opera shows are the most expensive performances with more than 40 artists on the stage. 

In addition, the big shows from last season will visit Girona these coming six months. ‘Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ with Catalan top actors Pere Arquillué and Emma Vilarasau, the touching ‘La nostra classe’ (Our class) directed by Carme Portacelli, the successful comedy ‘Pel davant i pel darrera’ (‘Noises off’) rearranged by Paco Mir from Catalan theatre company Tricicle, and ‘El sexe dels angels’ (The gender of the angels) are just some of the drama productions on offer.

Apart from these shows, there are also three dance performances and five plays for all ages at the Teatre Municipal de Girona. ‘Call me maria’ and ‘Operetta’ and also a concert by Cabo San Roque are three of shows directed at families.

The theatre also collaborates, along with 24 high schools within the Girona Province (north-eastern Catalonia), in a project called UAP –working for peace-. The students are going to act in a musical show to commemorate the anniversary of Gandhi’s death on the 30^th January. The 6 euro ticket will be used by charity projects in eastern Africa.