VALENCIA, SPAIN.-The Palau de les Arts will open its doors for the first time. A Royal Gala where the best Valencian voices will sing arias from opera and zarzuela accompanied by an orchestra created specially for the occasion, formed exclusively of Valencian musicians and conducted by Maestros Lorin Maazel and Enrique García Asensio.

"Inauguration Concerts " - With the building work on the Palau de Les Arts finished , the construction of the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències is now complete. From now on, the it will be the performances that are most important. The Palau de les Arts plans to raise its curtain for the first time in October 2005.

The Fundació plans to officially open the majestic architectural work designed by the brilliant Valencian architect, Santiago Calatrava, with a programme of Inaugural Acts. The programme entitled Inaugural Acts will consist of three shows in which operatic and symphonic music will play the major part.

The Palau de les Arts will open its doors for the first time on the night of 8 October, the eve of the public holiday celebrated in the Valencian Region on 9 October, at the invitation of the Molt Honorable President of the Generalitat. Her Majesty Queen Sofia will attend a Royal Gala of operatic music given in the Main Hall where the best Valencian voices will sing arias from opera and Spanish operetta accompanied by an orchestra created specially for the occasion, formed exclusively of Valencian musicians and conducted by the internationally famous conductor, Lorin Maazel.

On the night of 9 October the Palau de les Arts will give a second performance of the operatic gala of the previous evening, an event that will be accompanied by a superb audiovisual programme of music and fireworks in the grounds of the Palau for the general public.

On 25 October, a concert of symphony music will be performed by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta. After the Inaugural Acts, the Palau will close its doors again until October 2006, when the first artistic season will be staged.