Winner of the 7th Europäische Opernregie-Preis Camerata Nuova/Opera Europa in 2013, being the youngest winner of this competition ever, Rafael R. Villalobos is making a name for himself as one of the most interesting young opera directors in Spain. He has also been finalist of the Independent Opera at Sadler's Wells Director Fellowship competition as well as winner of the Prix de Rome, being artist in residence at the Academy of Spain in Rome. He has recently been nominated as Best Young Director for the International Opera Awards in London. He was drawn to theatre and music at a very early age, studying solfège and singing at the Conservatorio Cristóbal de Morales in his hometown, Seville. He gained a BA in Performing Arts from the RESAD [Royal School for Dramatic Arts] in Madrid, and went on to obtain first-class honours with distinction in an MA in Music as an Interdisciplinary Art at the University of Barcelona in conjunction with the ESMUC [Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya]. He has also studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and attended workshops and masterclasses with Vincent Dumestre, Eduardo Arroyo and Mario Gas. He has joined some of the leading ensembles of contemporary theatre in Spain, such as Abiosis Teatro and Ana Pasadena, in works like Pieza Paisaje [XXV Premio Antonio Buero Vallejo]. He was also selected both designer and performer of Six Acts at the Prague Quadrennial in 2011. A multidisciplinary creator, he has collaborated with fashion designer Alma Aguilar, cabaret singer De La Puríssima, flamenco dancer Leonor Leal and Cuarteto Quiroga. After his successful debut in Barcelona with A Welcome Guest (microopera for a single performer, after Dido and Aeneas by H. Purcell) starring pop singer Pere Jou, most recent works include ROMAESAMORALREVES after P. Calderón de la Barca -Tempietto di Bramante, Roma-, Elektra by R. Strauss -Auditorio Nacional de Música, Madrid- and Hagiografías -Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid-, next to conductors such as David Afkham, Aaron Zapico and Simone Vallerotonda. His very acclaimed production of Dido and Aeneas at Teatro Real has been broadcasted in cinemas and will be back on stage next season.
