NEW ARTISTIC TALENT AT LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA’S CUP

A spectacular opening ceremony for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup scheduled for the evening of Thursday October 10 will feature an artistic cast of new international talent supported by the experience of Albert Guinovart and Hansel Cereza, with the presence of Sara Blanch (below), Arnau Tordera, Asia Ortega and the Castellers de Vilafranca, along with the collaboration of the Orchestra and Choir of the Liceu and Escolania de Montserrat.

The ceremony of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup – part of the regatta’s legacy projects, supported by America’s Cup Event and its partners, and coordinated with the host institutions through the Barcelona Capital Nàutica Foundation – will be staged on October 10 at 9pm at Platja del Bogatell and will have the sea, wind and sailing as its main themes. It will be broadcast by La2, TV3, Betevé and internationally.

The “Barcelona far al món” ceremony is aligned with the values ​​and passion of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and will highlight the power of sport – fused with art and culture – as agents of change and as catalysts for future commitment.

This show is the crescendo of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, which is being held for the first time in Barcelona, ​​and is an America’s Cup Legacy project, supported by America’s Cup Event, its partners and sponsors.

A multidisciplinary cast

The October 10 ceremony in Barcelona will be a multidisciplinary show, showcasing the country’s performing arts and culture in their entirety, with new talent highlighted in the form of young performers from a variety of art disciplines who have a growing reputation throughout Europe. These newcomers are supported by the experience of established names like stage director Hansel Cereza.

The soundtrack has been written by the renowned composer Albert Guinovart (above) and will be performed by the Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu conducted by Josep Pons, and by the Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu under the direction of Pablo Assante. The main theme of the work that gives its name to the show – the anthem “Barcelona Far al Món” will be played.

The breakwater of the beautiful Mar bella will welcome on stage talented new performers who have enjoyed success around the world, such as the soprano Sara Blanch, who has just made her debut at La Scala in Milan playing the role of Tribino in the opera L’Orontea by Antonio Cesti.

Blanch will share a duet with pop tenor Arnau Tordera (above) in the anthem of “Barcelona Far al món”, which will make its world premiere. Tordera is a versatile artist, singer, guitarist and composer with the modern music group Obeses, as well as composing several award-winning operas.

Another of the new participating artists is the Catalan actress Asia Ortega (below) – who, in her short career, has established an impressive filmography catalogue and highly successful series – who plays a leading role in one of the key and most emotional moments of the performance.

The production of the Guinovart soundtrack highlights the collaboration of the Escolania de Montserrat, which will be represented by a child performer who, in front of the great lighthouse, will face a monster of artificial intelligence. Throughout the show the audience will experience virtual and real moments intertwining in perfect harmony.

Another key element of the story is human strength, specifically the strength that a team generates – a reference to collective strength of the sailing crews competing in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup – where strategy and harnessing the multitude of forces involved leads to victory. In Catalan terms, the representation of the power and strength of the teams is embodied in the Castellers de Vilafranca and they will create a very special moment in the performance.

Technology in the service of art

Technology is also a key element in the show with the Bogatell beach and the Mar Bella breakwater being turned into a large outdoor stage, turning these public spaces of land, sea and air into a gigantic theatre. Under the stage direction of Hansel Cereza (below) the basis of the show centres on a large ‘lighthouse’ of screens and lights that will be transformed by a team of “sculptors” – with a costume design made by the designer Txell Miras and choreographed by Barbarana Pons – to music in an ensemble as ephemeral as the light that will pass beyond physical space.

The show features 1,000 drones which will swarm the sky over Bogatell beach for a 40-minute section of the performance – a national record coordinated by Flock Drone Art – while reminding the world that Barcelona has always been a great beacon that embraces cultures and people.

The original idea and organisation of the show was awarded, after an open and international competition of ideas, to the UTE (Temporary Union of Companies) formed by FOCUS, LAVINIA, IGOR STUDIO and FLOCK DRONE ART. The show will be one of the most significant moments of the Cultural Regatta and will position Barcelona, once again, as a reference point and source of inspiration for the world with the event expected to capture worldwide attention.

The professionals who make this show possible are:

IGOR CORTADELLAS – Original creative idea
HANSEL CEREZA – Stage direction and creativity
ALBERT GUINOVART – Musical composition
CARLES BERGA – Scenography
GLASSWORKS – Audiovisual creation
TXELL MIRAS – Costume design
FERRAN CONANGLA – Sound recording and mastering
ENRIC GINÉ – Music production, editing and mixing
PEPE FERRER – Sound space
XAVI COSTAS – Light design
BARBARANA PONS – Choreography
FLOCK DRONE ART – Design and drone choreography