Introduction
Emilio López (Valencia, 1982) is a stage director, photographer, and visual artist, an academic member of the Spanish Academy of Performing Arts, with a solid musical background and an extraordinary aesthetic sensibility. He began his artistic journey in the world of classical music: from a young age, he studied flute and operatic singing at the Joaquín Rodrigo and José Iturbi Conservatories in Valencia. He later fully embraced the stage vocation, channeling all his talent into theatre and opera direction.

His profile combines experience in stage and opera direction with a strong background in cultural management and programming, enhanced by his completion of the Professional Certificate SSC445_3 – Promotion, Programming, and Development of Cultural Actions, the University Technical Course in Cultural Management (European University Miguel de Cervantes / FIBICC), and the University Specialization Course in the Integral Management of Theatres, Auditoriums, and Performing Spaces.

This training has allowed him not only to direct artistically but also to effectively understand and manage institutional and production contexts in the contemporary performing arts scene. He is currently expanding his skills through further studies in teaching accreditation and cultural management, reinforcing his commitment to artistic pedagogy, knowledge transmission, the training of new generations, and cultural outreach with a contemporary approach.

Stage Career and Collaborations
In 2006, Emilio López began his professional career at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, working as an assistant director and stage manager. In this prestigious theatre, he shaped his own style alongside great masters of stage direction, collaborating with figures such as Pier’Alli, Jonathan Miller, Emilio Sagi, Carlus Padrissa (La Fura dels Baus), Francisco Negrín, Werner Herzog, Mariusz Treliński, Giancarlo del Monaco, Damiano Michieletto, and Carlos Saura, among others.

Since 2017, López has debuted as a principal stage director with the zarzuela La Malquerida at the Teatros del Canal in Madrid (later staged at the Palau de les Arts), and has directed the operas Pyramus and Thisbe and Madama Butterfly in Valencia. Since then, he has signed numerous original productions and has been invited as associate or assistant director in major projects.

He has collaborated with international directors such as Albert Boadella (El pintor, 2018), Dmitry Bertman (Demon at the Liceu in Barcelona), and was a key figure in the revival of Davide Livermore’s Norma at ABAO Bilbao. He has also worked with Àlex Ollé and Carlus Padrissa in productions such as Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher, with Werner Herzog, Jonathan Miller, and recently with the artist Jaume Plensa in the new production of Macbeth at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.

In June 2025, he was the artistic and creative director of the Ópera XXI Awards Gala at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia. Among his upcoming projects are Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, Maria Stuarda, Roberto Devereux, Carmen, and Turandot.

Recognition
At just 35 years old, Emilio López became the youngest director to debut with an original production in the main hall of the Palau de les Arts. In his 12 years at this theatre, he collaborated with legendary conductors such as Lorin Maazel and Zubin Mehta, among many others.

His international reach was reinforced by his direction of Madama Butterfly for the 2017–18 season at Les Arts, set in WWII Japan with the landscape of Nagasaki as a scenic backdrop. The production, starring Marina Rebeka, was one of the most-viewed on the OperaVision platform.

Another key moment in his career was the success of Anna Bolena at the Ópera de Oviedo season, awarded the 2025 Talía Prize for Best Costume Design (by Naiara Beistegui). This recognition reflects the overall quality of the production and López’s ability to lead creative teams toward award-winning results.

He has also participated in projects at Teatro Real in Madrid, including Norma, Jeanne d’Arc, and The Fiery Angel, collaborating with directors such as Justin Way, Calixto Bieito, and Àlex Ollé, consolidating his prestige in the Spanish operatic scene.

Scenic Aesthetic and Visual Style
Emilio López’s artistic approach stands out for its contemporary and multidisciplinary vision. As a director, photographer, and visual artist, he brings a deeply personal and sensitive perspective to his productions.

His method integrates image, light, projection, sound, and the body as inseparable elements of visual dramaturgy, creating performances that stimulate the senses and imagination. For López, the operatic stage is a living canvas where every frame – from the lighting palette to the choreographic placement of singers – tells a story beyond the text and music.

This total approach to the stage allows him to update the traditional repertoire with a poetic and modern outlook, establishing an emotional connection with today’s audiences without betraying the essence of the lyrical genre.

He has demonstrated his ability to adapt his style to different repertoires and contexts, whether directing contemporary works, revitalizing classic titles, or reviving established productions. During his long tenure at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, he was also a regular collaborator with the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo, working with young singers in training and artistic director Davide Livermore, participating in the development of productions and the realization of an interdisciplinary artistic vision.

Collaborations with Great Voices
Emilio López has worked with some of the most prestigious voices on the international operatic scene, including Plácido Domingo, Paata Burchuladze, Maria Guleghina, Cristina Gallardo-Domâs, Violeta Urmana, Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Stephen Milling, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson, Nancy Gustafson, Richard Margison, Eric Halfvarson, Anna Larsson, Christa Mayer, and many others.

He has also collaborated with artists such as Jonas Kaufmann, Angela Marambio, Alexia Voulgaridou, Marcello Giordani, Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Orlin Anastassov, Olga Peretyatko, Oksana Dyka, Dmitry Korchak, Erwin Schrott, Paolo Fanale, Gregory Kunde, Angela Meade, Virginia Tola, Clémentine Margaine, and Stephen Costello, among many others.

In the Spanish and Italian scene, standout collaborators include Carlos Álvarez, Simón Orfila, Daniela Barcellona, Hui He, Marcelo Álvarez, Aquiles Machado, Celso Albelo, Jorge de León, and María Agresta.

His artistic approach, based on active listening, actor direction, and scenic construction in service of the voice, has given rise to productions of great expressive depth, always respectful of each performer’s vocal and theatrical identity.