While it may be true that Spain isn’t as famed for its opera as perhaps Italy or Germany, there is actually a surprising wealth of opera houses and quality performances put on frequently in every major city in the country. As well as this, of course, Spain has served as the inspiration for such world-renowned operas as Carmen, which is set in Seville, as is The Marriage of Figaro and, of course, The Barber of Seville.
Today, idealista/news brings you the best Spanish opera houses and where to find them so you can experience the high culture, or as the Spanish say, ‘alta cultura’, that the country has to offer.
1. Teatro Real, Madrid
First on the list must surely be the Royal Theatre in the country’s capital, located by an underground station named, fittingly enough, Ópera. The opera house celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, having been founded in 1818. One of the things that makes it so special is that in the intermission between acts, the artists traditionally come out to a balcony overlooking plaza and serenade the public outside, bringing the hair-raising majesty of Opera to a wider audience.
In its 2018/19 season, the Teatro Real is putting on productions of Faust, Turandot and Il trovatore, as well as the premiere there of La Calisto. What’s more, they’ll be hosting such big names as Bryn Terfel in February 2019 and Placido Domingo in July of next year. If none of that takes your fancy, you can always try Madrid’s other opera house the Zarzuela.
2. Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
Also celebrating an anniversary is the Liceu in the centre of Barcelona, which turns 20 next year. After the original opera house on the famous Ramblas street was destroyed by a fire in 1994, a magnificent new one was constructed in its place, opening its doors in October 1999. With its sumptuous decorations and unmatched acoustics, the auditorium plays host to much more than just opera.
The line up for 2018/19 includes various concerts and dance shows, from a choir singing Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to a ballet version of the Spanish classic Don Quixote, by way of a family-friendly adaptation of The Magic Flute. As well as this, there are the traditional operatic performances like Madame Butterfly and Hamlet.
3. Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Valencia
The stunningly futuristic Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Spain’s third city, Valencia. This enormous white dome shining on the Mediterranean coast forms part of the emblematic City of Arts and Sciences complex which has been used to film scenes in such movies as George Clooney’s Tomorrowland (2015) and Benedict Cumberbatch’s The Fifth Estate (2013).
Upcoming performances in the Palace of the Arts include Turandot, Rigoletto and The Magic Flute, plus Swan Lake and numerous classical music concerts to choose from, with Placido Domingo making an appearance here too at the specialist music centre that is named after him.
4. Euskalduna Conference Centre, Bilbao
While on the outside the Euskalduna Jauregia Palace may not look like much more than a gigantic brown box on Bilbao’s waterfront near the Guggenheim museum, inside it is a paradise for lovers of music, culture and entertainment. It is a multiuse centre that hosts rock concerts, plays, musicals, ballets and even a film festival.
In terms of opera, it is well suited to put on high-calibre productions thanks to its huge, high-ceilinged theatre and is putting on La bohème in 2018, among others.
5. Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The Tenerife Auditorium in the capital city of one of the most popular of the Canary Islands is truly a sight to behold. Designed by the same artist as the Valencian opera house, Santiago Calatrava, it is just as spectacular as the Sydney Opera House for its swooping tail like a bird. It has become a symbol of pride and a meeting point for the people of Tenerife, where they go to enjoy a range of social, cultural and artistic shows.
The opera performances they are organising for the near future include The Italian in Algiers, Hansel and Gretel, La traviata and, once again, Puccini’s ever-popular Turandot. Now there’s nothing stopping you from going and experiencing the best that Spain has to offer opera lovers.
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