Tatata cham, tatata cham: Symphonic and Operatic Madrid.

Madrid, with its melting pot of cultures and its extensive cultural features, gives us a wide agenda of classical music concerts (concerts guide: click her) in different public and private institutions.

The ANM (Auditorio Nacional de Música) is a vibrant music centre and its facilities may be used by individuals or public and private organisations to stage musical events. Up to four concerts a day, including early and late evening performances, can be held in its two concerts halls, the Symphony Hall and the Chamber Hall (seating capacity: 2.324 and 692).

Opera has its reference in the Teatro Real (Plaza de Isabel II. Ópera Underground), located opposite the Palacio Real of Madrid in the Plaza de Oriente. The Teatro Real was built in the 19th century for stage representations to entertain the royalty and the nobility. The building is neoclassical and it has 9 floors. On the top floor there is a magnificent restaurant run by restaurateur José Luis, with splendid views of the Palacio Real. Most of the performances are operas, even though there are also many classical music concerts and classical and modern dance performances. The Teatro Real also offers guided tours of its facilities. The schedules for guided tours is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

The private Fundación Juan March offers a more than interesting programme of free concerts with different titles and suggestive names: Saturday Concerts, Midday Concerts and Thematic Mondays. The foundation organises art exhibitions, music concerts and conferences and seminars. Its headquarters in Madrid holds a music and theatre library.

If you want to enjoy a pleasant evening out listening to a Chamber concert or enjoy a meal while listening to an aria composed by Mozart, Madrid has the best places to do so. In 1978, a new and different place opened up in calle Huertas, a place that offered alternatives to Madrid's nightlife. La Fidula was one of those cafés where one could see the different ways of understanding the culture of that moment, represented by intellectuals, artists, politicians, students. During the 80s and 90s many musicians performed at La Fidula, but specially classical music artists. During the mid 90s others styles were also introduced: jazz, blues, bossanova, etc. Now, La Fidula offers all sorts of live performances on weekends as it used to. For your own comfort, you can check each month's performances at its web site. 

The Café de la Ópera has several peculiarities. Maybe the most striking one is that you can enjoy a meal while listening to live arias or other pieces of classical music. It is what is known as a "Sung Dinner". Nevertheless, its cuisine with very modern and innovating style is also quite remarkable. Thus, hot foie on top of currant sauce with Maldon crystal salt or cod fillets on white ratatouille and tomato muslin, are some example of the quality cuisine that customers can taste.


List of places to listen to classical music in Madrid:

Auditorio Nacional de Música
C/. Príncipe de Vergara 146
MADRID. 28002
Area: CHAMARTÍN
Tube: Cruz del Rayo / Prosperidad
T: 91.337.01.00
The Auditorio Nacional de Música (ANM), under the auspices of the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (Ministry of Education and Culture), was opened on October 21st. 1988. Designed by José Mª García de Paredes, its construction was programmed by the National Plan of Auditoriums, which was set up to provide Spain with adequate concert halls.
http://www.auditorionacional.mcu.es/  

Centro Cultural de la Villa
C/. Del Descubrimiento. Plaza de Colón s/n
MADRID. 28001
Area: SALAMANCA
T: 91 480 03 00
Complete information: click here
Exhibition schedules: From Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays and Bank holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
The origins of the Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid are closely tied to the importance of the remodelling of the Plaza de Colón. Before the reconstruction, this square was oval-shaped and the centre was dominated by a monument to Columbus. Private palaces and the Palacio de Medinaceli opened onto the square. The most important buildings were, and still are, the Biblioteca Nacional (the Public Library) and the Museo Arqueológico (Archaeological Museum). Located between the streets of Jorge Juan and Goya, the square was also flanked by the façades of the old coin mint's two most important buildings, designed by the architect Jareño.  Traffic congestion problems on Paseo de la Castellana, the need to modernise and construct new buildings, and the conversion of the former mint, the Casa de la Moneda, into a public green space created the need to consider what the new square's design and purpose should be, for the purposes of solving traffic problems and planning the layout and development of the square and surrounding areas. As a result, the new square was built in response to pre-existing traffic conditions, with a garden area on the upper level and a large parking garage and the Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid on the basement level.

Juventudes Musicales de Madrid
Paseo de la Habana, 24. 3
T: 91 562 56 72
The Jeunesses Musicales were founded in Belgium in 1940 in order to disseminate music between youngsters.
They quickly spread out across the world as a an efficient instrument of cultural dissemination, until they constituted the International Federation of Musical Youth with headquarters in Brussels. This organisation is a founder member of the UNESCO's International Music Council. They have been in Spain since 1952, and it is precisely at the association where important people in the musical field started their careers. For instance Enrique Franco -music critic-, Cristobel Halffter -composer-, Tomás Marco -composer-, Luis de Pablos and many more started here.
www.juvmusicales-madrid.com/

Fundación Caja Madrid
Pl. de San Martín 1
MADRID. 28013
Area: Centre of Madrid
Te: 902 24 68 10
Tickets: Free entrance
Complete information: click here
Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
The Music Programme of the Fundacíón Caja Madrid is, in terms of quantity and quality, the most important of the programmes that are carried out in Spain by this sort of entities. The main goal of this programme is to promote musical culture and learning, as well as recovering and disseminating the main part of our sometimes forgotten legacy.
http://www.fundacioncajamadrid.es

Fundación Juan March
 C/. Castelló 77
MADRID. 28006
Area: SALAMANCA
Tube: Núñez de Balboa
T: 91 435 42 40
Tickets: Free entrance
Complete information: click here
Tickets: Free entrance
Opening hours: From Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays and bank holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Established in 1955 by the Spanish financier Juan March Ordinas, the Fundación Juan March is a family-run institution that dedicates its resources and activities to the fields of science and the humanities.
The Foundation organises art exhibitions, concerts, lecture series, and seminars. It administers the Spanish Library of Contemporary Music and Theater in its Madrid headquarters and directs the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español in Cuenca, and the Museu d'Art Espanyol Contemporani in Palma de Mallorca.
http://www.march.es/

Centro Cultural Buenavista
Avenida  Toreros  5
28028 Madrid
: 91 355 50 27
Opening hours: From Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Zone: Salamanca –-Guindalera neighbourhood.

Teatro Monumental
Calle  Atocha  65
28012 Madrid
T: 91 429 12 81
Ticket office opening hours: From Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or until the performance starts.
Activities: Theatre, Dance, Opera, Concerts

Teatro Real
Pl. Oriente s/n
MADRID. 28013
Area: Centre of Madrid
Tube: Opera
T: 91 516 06 06
Ticket office opening hours: From Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. On Sundays until two hours before the performance starts.
Activities: Theatre, Dance, Opera, Concerts
It was designed by Antonio López Aguado in 1818 following the classical typology of the 18th century theatres. It has an irregular hexagon plant, two main facades: one faced towards the Plaza de Isabel II with hardly any decoration and the other one faced towards the Palacio Real and the Plaza de Oriente, designed by González Velázquez and with more ornamentation. Once inside the Teatro Real, we must mention the ceiling of the Grand Hall painted by Lucas and its golden bronze lamp.
http://www.teatro-real.com

If you want to have something to eat while listening to classical music,  we recommend:

El Café de la Ópera
Calle Arrieta, 6
Madrid, 28013
Area: Opera
Tube: Opera
T: 91 542 63 82
Opening hours: From Monday to Sunday from 9:30 p.m. to midnight.
If you like bel canto and you are also a food lover this is your place. The Café de la Ópera is located in one of the most impressive centric areas of Madrid: the Opera area, where you can also come across the Teatro Real, the calle Arenal and the Catedral de la Almudena amongst other wonders.
Opposite the unbeatable framework of the Teatro Real, this Café always offers evenings full of surprises and great art, a full show where waiters bring you a bit more than just your dinner: they can serve you an aria by Rigoletto, La Bohème duet or the water, sugar and liquor quartet. All this with a dose of humour.
http://www.elcafedelaopera.com

Café Concierto La Fídula
Calle Huertas 57
28014, Madrid
Tube: Huertas
Area: Huertas
T: 91 429 29 47
Type of performances: Classical Music, Jazz and Blues
In 1978, a new and different place opened up in calle Huertas, a place that offered alternatives to Madrid's nightlife. La Fidula was one of those cafés where one could see the different ways of understanding the culture of that moment, represented by intellectuals, artists, politicians, students. During the 80s and 90s many musicians performed at La Fidula, but specially classical music artists. During the mid 90s others styles were also introduced: jazz, blues, bossanova, etc. Now, La Fidula offers all sorts of live performances on weekends as it used to. For your own comfort, you can check each month's performances at its web site. 
Every Sunday, from 9:00 p.m. onwards JAZZ JAM SESSIONS
Sebastián Chames (piano), Christian Pérez (double bass) y Nirankar Khalsa (drums)
http://www.cafeconciertolafidula.com

Texts: Elías Zapata