Page 328 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

326  M ADRID

Classical Music, Opera Rock, Jazz and Theatre
and Zarzuela World Music
Madrid has a theatrical tradition
Madrid’s Auditorio Nacional Madrid’s music scene is that stretches back to the
de Música is home to Spain’s eclectic and energetic, Golden Age of the 17th century,
national orchestra, Orquesta mixing top international pop with writers such as Lope de
Nacional, as well as its national stars with independent local Vega and Calderón de la Barca
choir, Coro Nacional de España. bands performing at a variety creating a canon of work
With two concert halls, the of venues. Madrid’s increasingly that is still performed today.
auditorium also hosts many multicultural mix has ensured One of the most pres tigious
high-profile performances. an explosion of Latin American theatres in the city, the Teatro
The illustrious Teatro Real and African sounds recently, de la Comedia is traditionally
is best known as the home as well as interesting fusions home to the Compañía
of the city’s opera company. of both with more familiar Nacional de Teatro Clásico,
It also houses Orquesta Spanish sounds. In the which stages classic works
Sinfónica de Madrid, Spain’s 1980s, the heady days of la by Spanish playwrights.
oldest orchestra with a rich movida (see p309) gave birth Alternatively, take in a
history dating back to more to Spanish pop, and the repertory performance at
than a century. The magnificent momentum continues to this El Pavón Teatro Kamikaze.
Real is the best place to watch day with Madrid remaining Another one of the most
top-class international and the centre of the country’s highly regarded theatres is the
national opera performances. music scene. Teatro María Guerrero, which
Tickets for a show can be bought For rock music, Sala la presents Spanish modern
at a maximum of two weeks in Riviera, located next to the drama, as well as foreign plays.
advance by phone or from the Manzanares river, has an For contemporary and
website and can be collected excellent and well-deserved alternative theatre, Madrid
at the box office up to half an reputation. It has hosted major has a thriving network of fringe
hour before the show begins. international stars such as venues such as Cuarta Pared.
The Teatro Monumental is Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, the Teatro Español also puts on
the main venue for the excellent Cranberries and guitarist Joe excellent productions.
Orquesta Sinfónica y Coro de Satriani, among countless For musicals, try Teatro
RTVE, the orchestra and choir of others. Honky Tonk, in the Nuevo Apolo, Teatro Lope
Spain’s state television and radio Chamberí district, often has de Vega or Teatro Calderón.
company. The Centro Cultural performances from local bands, Other venues such as Teatro la
Conde Duque hosts classical so keep an eye out for posters Latina and Teatro Muñoz Seca
concerts among many other art advertising events, some of do comedy productions.
events. Fundación Juan March which are free. A wide range of Spanish
holds free classical concerts every Siroco has devoted itself to and international theatrical
Saturday morning (book online). discovering new alternative talent take part in the annual
Those who want to experi ence and indie bands, and also Festival de Otoño a Primavera
a Spanish, especially a madrileño, doubles as a club with live from October to June.
take on the operetta, should music performances.
definitely make time to see One of Europe’s best jazz Cinema
a zarzuela being performed. clubs, Café Central, with its
The origins of this lively form of Art Deco elegance, is one place Spanish cinema (see p196)
musical-drama-cum-social-satire that should not be missed. has earned great international
can be traced back to early 17th- Also popular is the lively El acclaim in recent years. For
century Madrid, and the tradition Junco jazz and blues venue. those with a grasp of the
is still going strong. With both Musicians from all over the language, Spanish film is a
spoken and sung parts as well as world and of a range of musical rewarding experience,
dancing, the zarzuela can be genres can be heard at El Sol. especially enjoyed at one
comic, ribald and even romantic. One of the most important of the grand film theatres
It is always enjoyable to watch. clubs of the Movida Madrileña along Gran Vía, such as Capitol,
The best productions are (see p309), El Sol is the only one which has screened films since
usually staged at the Teatro de la that continues to promote the the early 1900s.
Zarzuela. Other theatres also host underground style of music of Non-Spanish movies can
zarzuela perform ances occa sion- the 1980s. be seen in their original-
ally. Check listings for details. There are plenty of other language versions at Verdi,
Look our for details on free, well-reputed live-music Ideal, Golem and Renoir.
outdoor concerts in the papers. venues in the city. The best Screenings will be found
The Teatro Real normally opens way to keep abreast of the listed in newspapers and
the opera season with a live latest events is to check listings magazines. Note that
transmission of the first show out weekly listings and to tickets cost less on the día del
on massive video screens in keep an eye out for adverts espectador, which is usually
Plaza de Oriente. on the street. on Mondays or Wednesday.

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