Musicals in Madrid

Although it is often a easy target, for a certain sector of both music snobs and the, supposedly serious drama, the truth is that musicals have a hardly negligible power of fascination for anyone who has overcome their prejudices and have been fortunate attend one of the good ones.

But regardless of the quality of production, musicals are from more than one point of view a phenomenon that represents some of the most essential features and attractive performing arts, beginning with the principle of suspension of disbelief. Everything that happens in a musical, no matter how crazy or unrealistic it may be, is accepted by the public without protest and without scandal as far as concerns credibility under one of the oldest of dramatic conventions, which opens up an amazing range of possibilities for illusion and play that is highly attractive for both the spectators and theater artists. Add to this, the spectacular media advertising that often accompanies this type of performances, often -related to sensitivity in the ways contemporary artists of our time, we can state without hesitation that the contemplation of a good music can be comparable in intensity, depth and emotion to any other theatrical event, however dressed in high culture it comes.

For at least a decade, the Madrid’s Gran Via has been strongly committed to star musicals in its chimerical intention to compete someday with the quality and variety of London´s West End. Certainly, the urban setting could hardly be more propitious. Among the musicals that tourists will be able to see in January, the recreation in the Teatro Lope de Vega (Gran Vía, 57) of the original production of The Lion King by Julie Taymor stands out with its own light. This is one of the biggest theatrical events of the last ten years

Classics as Chicago, one of the biggest hits of the nineties, popularized by its film version, can be seen at the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá (Jorge Juan, 62), staring the magnetic Manuel Bandera as Hair, (Theatre Coliseum artery, Gran Vía, 78) the best musical of the sixties, particularly relevant now that we are at the very threshold of that very Aquarium era, in which there are so many hopes  expected for more than forty years.

Finally, for those who prefer the local flavor at the Rialto Theatre (Gran Vía, 54) lies more than 100 lies, uses the acclaimed songs by Joaquín Sabina to knit a story of certain dyes noir driven by love, revenge and friendship.

When you rent apartments in Madrid this January, overcome your prejudices if you still have one and come to enjoy, the matchless power of seduction that a good musical can have.

Translated by: Hans