The Central Courtyard at Conde Duque will host the world première of the latest production of the Veranos de la Villa Festival on 1 and 2 August, directed by Joaquín de Luz and conducted by Vasko Vasilev. This show includes performances by Estella Alonso, Sergio Bernal, Patricia Donn, Héctor Ferrer, Yanier Gómez, José Maldonado and Shani Peretz, accompanied by the Covent Garden Soloists.
Joaquín de Luz is considered to be one of the best ever Spanish dancers of classical ballet. Appointed Artistic Director of the Spanish National Dance Company in 2019 by the INAEM, De Luz returned to Spain, having spent 25 years in the USA. At the New York City Ballet, one of the most prestigious companies in the world, he showed that Spanish talent lacked a theatre of its own that would nurture classical ballet to the level it deserved. Under this premise, he rose to the challenge proposed by the INAEM to try to offer what so many classical ballet dancers had been denied in their own country.
Since 2018, he has combined his role as choreographer and artistic director with that of a teacher at the School of American Ballet in New York, at the JKO School and at the ABT Studio Company, as well as at the Marat Daukayev School of Dance in Los Angeles and the Rock School in Philadelphia. He is frequently invited by various institutions to teach numerous courses and master classes internationally.
In March 2019, he was appointed director of the National Dance Company (CND), for which he has choreographed Arriaga (in conjunction with Aguiló and Alosa) (2020), Giselle, which premièred in 2020 at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Passengers Within, which premièred in 2022 at the Teatros del Canal, A Tu Vera, which premièred at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid on 18 July 2023 and Swoosh, which premièred at the Naves del Español, Matadero, Madrid, on 7 November 2023. He is now adding August Bouronville’s version of La Sylphide to the CND’s repertoire. It must be pointed out that he has served as artistic director of the Veranos de la Villa de Madrid Festival since the 2025 edition.
Vasko Vassilev has a vast repertoire and is known for his versatility in many musical genres. He also stands out for management and production. At the age of 21, he became the soloist at the Lyon Opera and was appointed principal concertmaster of the Royal Opera House, becoming its youngest leader at the age of 23. He has built an international career with engagements and tours all over the continent. He is currently the artistic director of the Covent Garden Soloists, the London Chamber Orchestra, the Baltic Neopolis Orchestra and Laureate.
Artistic File:
- Artistic Director - Joaquín De Luz
- Musical Conductor - Vasko Vasilev
- With Estella Alonso, Sergio Bernal, Patricia Donn, Héctor Ferrer, Yanier Gómez. José Maldonado and Shani Peretz.
- Covent Garden Soloists. Musical arrangements: Carlos Llave
- New production for the Veranos de la Villa Festival in Madrid. World Première.
Programme:
1.-Sonata for violin in D Minor “La Folia”, Op. 5 No. 12. - A. Corelli
- Joaquín de Luz, S. Bernal, S. Péretz, H. Ferrer, P. Donn, E. Alonso, J. Maldonado
- Covent Garden Soloists. Vasko Vassilev.
2.-Asturias (Leyenda). Suite Española Op.47 - I. Albéniz
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
3.-Quintet No. 4 in D Major G. 448.“Fandango” - L. Boccherini/E.Alonso
- E. Alonso.
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
4.-Violin Concerto in B-flat major, RV 583 - A. Vivaldi/A.Shermolly
- S. Péretz, Y. Gómez
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
5.-Violoncello Suite No. 1 in G Major BWV 1007. Prelude - J.S. Bach/J.Maldonado
- J. Maldonado
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
6.-Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28 - C. Saint-Saëns
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
7.-Zapateado, Spanish Dance No. 6, Op. 23 Nº 2. - P. de Sarasate/A.R. Soler
- P. Donn
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
8.-The Dying Swan. (Carnival of the Animals) - C. Saint-Saëns/R. Cué
- Sergio Bernal
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
10.-Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004. Nº 5 Chaconne - J.S. Bach/J. De Luz
- Joaquín de Luz
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
11.- Moonlight Sonata. 1st Movement - L.V. Beethoven/H. Ferrer
- José Maldonado, Héctor Ferrer
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
12.-Popular Spanish Songs. No. 1 The Moorish Cloth... - M. de Falla/J. de Luz
- E. Alonso, H. Ferrer
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
13.-Tabula Rasa - A. Part/S. Rivas-S. Repele
- Joaquín de Luz, S. Bernal
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
14.-Astormfuego - A. Vivaldi/I. Albéniz/M. de Falla.
- Joaquín de Luz, S. Péretz, H. Ferrer, P. Donn, E. Alonso, J. Maldonado, S. Bernal
- Covent Garden Soloists. V. Vassilev
Approximate Duration: 100 minutes
Recommended Age: All ages
