Page 330 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

328  THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

Entertainment Classical Music
In Madrid, the two concert halls
The Spanish take particular pride in their cultural heritage. of the Auditorio Nacional de
As well as the traditional art form of flamenco dance and the Música host international
three-act drama of the bullfight (corrida), the theaters and classical music performances,
opera houses of Spanish cities provide one of the best ways and the Orquesta Nacional
de España plays here regularly.
of sharing the experience of Spain. Many activities begin well The Teatro Real de Madrid
after midnight, and taking full advantage of the afternoon also hosts important classical
siesta is a good way to prepare for the evening ahead. Spain’s music concerts.
mountain ranges, woodlands, and extensive coast offer great Barcelona’s Modernista
potential for scenic tours and sports vacations as alternatives Palau de la Música Catalana,
designed by architect Lluís
to lounging on the beach.
Domènech i Montaner, is one
of the world’s most beautiful
reservations office (taquilla) of concert halls.
Entertainment Listings the bullring. The TEYCI agency
For Spanish speakers, the most sells tickets for bullfights, but Bullfighting
complete guide to what’s going charges up to 20 percent
on in Madrid and Barcelona commission. Bullfighting continues to be a
can be found in the weekly Time popular spectacle throughout
Out magazine (published Opera and Zarzuela the country, but it is not for the
Wednesday and available A visit to the Spanish capital squeamish. The Plaza de Toros
digitally) or the Guía del Ocio would not be complete without de Las Ventas in Madrid is the
(published on Fridays and also spending a night at the most famous bullring in the
available free with El País on zarzuela, Madrid’s own variety world. It holds corridas every
Friday). Daily newspapers such of comic opera. The best Sunday during the bullfighting
as El Mundo and ABC have productions are those staged at season. During the May Fiestas
weekly entertainment the Teatro de la Zarzuela. Other de San Isidro, fights are held
supplements. The free monthly venues include Los Teatros del every day. Some of Spain’s most
English-language publication, Canal and the Teatro Victoria. important fights are held at the
In Madrid, can be found in Several other theaters offer Maestranza bullring in Seville
bookstores and Irish bars. zarzuela productions during the Feria de Abril (a
throughout the summer. spring fair held during the
The best place to see national fortnight after Easter). Since
Seasons and Tickets
and international opera, 2012, bullfights have been
The main concert and theater including Madrid’s own opera banned in Catalonia. Most
season in Spain runs from company, is the Teatro Real de towns in Andalusia have their
September to June. Madrid. The Teatro Calderón own bullrings: Ronda, Córdoba,
In Madrid and Barcelona, the also hosts excellent classical and and Granada are among the
easiest ways to acquire tickets modern opera productions. best-known venues.
for the theater, concerts, and Barcelona’s opera house is the
opera are by telephone or Gran Teatre del Liceu.
online. Online ticketing Flamenco
agencies include Entradas.com A spontaneous musical art form,
Ticketea, and Ticketmaster. Theater flamenco has its roots in the
Other agencies are El Corte Madrid’s most prestigious gypsy culture of Andalusia.
Inglés and FNAC. theaters are the Teatro de la However, many of the best
In Barcelona, theater tickets Comedia and the Teatro María exponents are now based
can also be bought from ATMs Guerrero. The former stages in the capital.
at branches of the Catalunya classic works by Spanish In Madrid, Casa Patas is still
Caixa and from Tiquet Rambles playwrights, while the latter the best place to catch the raw
at the Palau de la Virreina, which hosts foreign productions and power of genuine flamenco
also has last-minute reduced modern Spanish drama. The guitar and cante singing. Both
price tickets and a good website. Teatro Muñoz Seca and Teatro music and dance can be
Tickets for special events can be Reina Victoria put on comedy enjoyed at Café de Chinitas.
bought from tourist offices. productions. Madrid’s festival Flamenco is performed late
In other parts of Spain, your of classical and modern drama at night with most venues
hotel or local tourist office will (Festival de Otoño a Primavera) offering dinner and a show. In
provide details of events and takes place between October Andalusia, visitors can enjoy
where to purchase tickets. and June. top-quality performances in
Tickets for bullfights, generally In Barcelona, the Teatre the tablaos (flamenco bars)
held between mid-March and Nacional de Catalunya is a fine of the Barrio de Santa Cruz
mid-October, are sold at the showcase for Catalan drama. in Seville, and listen to soul-

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