The authorities of Valencia have decided to retain the current director, Jesús Iglesias, as the artistic director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, despite his contract expiring in December. It has become known that to achieve this, they plan to bypass the requirement to hold a new competitive selection, as stipulated by the theater’s charter. The reason for this move is the record-breaking performance of the season and the high praise for Iglesias’s work from both the public and critics.
According to Pablo Font de Mora, chairman of the theater’s Board of Trustees, the Generalitat Valenciana has agreed to expedite the renewal process of the director’s mandate despite administrative difficulties. Currently, they are considering making changes to the Palau de les Arts charter to avoid the necessity of announcing a new competition. Font de Mora emphasized that having Iglesias reapply makes no sense, since he already went through the procedure in 2018 and has successfully led the theater since 2019.
At a press conference dedicated to the season’s results and future plans, Font de Mora called the current season the best in the theater’s 20-year history. He noted that attendance reached 80%, while ticket revenues exceeded €4.5 million. Additional income from rental of premises and events amounted to €3.9 million, and sponsorship rose by more than 120%, approaching €900,000. The Generalitat allocated €18.3 million for the theater’s operations, and the Ministry of Culture — €2.5 million, which is significantly less than what Teatro Real in Madrid and Liceu in Barcelona receive.
The issue of contract renewal was discussed at the meeting of the executive committee of the board of trustees on May 12, attended by representatives of the relevant departments. It was decided to expedite the appointment process for the artistic director and to express full confidence in Iglesias. Now, the matter must be approved at the board level. Until a final decision is formalized, the terms of the new contract are not being disclosed. However, Font de Mora clarified that the competition will be excluded unless Iglesias withdraws from the process.
Jesús Iglesias himself confirmed his willingness to continue, but preferred not to comment on the details. Representatives from the Ministry of Culture did not take part in the press conference, but the ministry supported the board’s decision. In the new season, the theater will present four new opera productions, including Carmen, Lohengrin, Simon Boccanegra, and La clemenza di Tito, as well as an ambitious program featuring leading international performers and conductors. Coproduction partners include L’Opera de Roma, La Fenice di Venezia, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Context: Changes in the management of cultural institutions continue in Spain. Recently, the authorities canceled the mandatory residents’ vote on installing elevators for the elderly and people with disabilities — more about this decision can be found in the article on the new accessibility rules in apartment buildings.
For reference: The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía is one of the largest opera houses in Spain, opened in 2005 in Valencia. The institution is funded by regional and state budgets, as well as its own income and sponsorships. In recent years, the theater has been actively expanding international cooperation and increasing the share of extrabudgetary revenues.
