SUMMER IN THE CITY: Veranos de la Villa 2015

By Emily DeFranco

The anual Veranos de la Villa is the capital’s key summer festival, celebrating the season with a rich cultural agenda. During the months of July and August, Madrileños and visitors can enjoy programs, said to accommodate the most important artistic genres, in the main cultural venues of the city.

This year’s edition of the festival will have an additional site located at the Puente del Rey on Rio Madrid Park which is conveniently accessible by public transport (Bus 25, 39, 41, 138, Circular 2, N18 and N19; Metro Príncipe Pío).* This new hub of Veranos outdoor events is close to the Huerta de la Partida and provides beautiful views of the Rio Manzanares and the Madrid ledge made up of the Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral and the San Francisco El Grande Royal Basilica.

Puente del Rey
The cultural programs that in previous years were offered in the Sabatini Gardens will now be held at Puente del Rey. Dance, flamenco, the zarzuela and musical theater will once again delight the eager audiences of one of Madrid’s most anticipated events of the year. Guaranteed to make the spectators’ summer in the capital a magical one are The Sabandeños, one of the greatest exponents of traditional Canary Islands music; flamenco singer Estrella Morente with her enthralling voice; legendary flamenco guitarist Tomatito; Marina Heredia with her inexhaustible repertory of cante flamenco; the Catalan gypsy El Cigala; multi-award winning Flamenco singer Dorantes; and the Spanish pop band Cafe Quijano, among others of the same artistic calibre.

Puente del Rey (Photo: Luis Garcia/Zaqarbal, CC BY-SA3.0)

The zarzuela, or operetta, chosen for this year is Luisa Fernanda. Years ago, on its debut, the curtain was raised twenty three times to receive the profusion of applause.

Other events in the Puente del Rey program include a performance of Don Quijote by the Moscow Ballet on July 7^th and 8^th, the Montreal Jazz Ballet the July 24^th through 26^th and the Fundicion Danza y Flamenca on July 31^st and August 1^st and 2^nd .

Golfos de Roma, an adaptation of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, one of the most brilliant Broadway musical comedies, will bring Veranos to a close at Puente del Rey. August 19^th to 30^th,  9:30 p.m.

Teatro Circo Price, Ronda de Atocha 35, Metro Embajadores, Lavapies, Atocha;  Bus C, 27, 34, 36, 41, 119; Renfe Embajadores
As at Puente del Rey,  there are events at the Teatro Circo Price almost everyday in July. Ara Malikian kicked things off on the first and second of the month. Other acts here will include those of Marlango (July 4^th), Duo Dinamico (July 11^th), La Frontera, (the 12^th), Noa (the 18^th) , Rosario (the 22^nd), Fekat Circus (the 30^th) and Raimundo Amador (the 31^st).

Centro Cultural Conde Duque: In Veranos it’s time for summer movies. (Photo: fair use)

Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Calle Conde Duque 11, Metro Ventura Rodríguez, Plaza de España, San Bernardo y Noviciado; Bus 1, 2, 44, 74, 133 y 749; Minibus m-2
The South Patio of the Conde Duque will be the scene of  various concerts by the Municipal Symphonic Band of Madrid directed by Rafael Sanz-Espert. Classical concerts as well as band performances will be held in the auditorium. In Conde Duque’s theater, Punk Rock by Simon Stephens. The concert by the  Grigoryan Brothers, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan (classic guitar), on July 15^th is free. From the 10^th of July to the 12^th of September the Conde Duque is the place to go for Cine de Verano (Summer Movie)

The Plaza Mayor/ (Photo: Sebastian Dubiel, CC BY-SA3.0)

Plaza Mayor, Plaza  Mayor s/n, Metro Opera, La Latina, and Tirso Molina; Buses 21 and 24
The “Concierto Extraordinario de Veranos de la Villa” by the innovative Orquesta  de la Comunidad de Madrid will take place at Plaza Mayor on Saturday July 11^th at 10:00 p.m, free admission. The final event will be Golfus De Roma directed by Jesús Castejón and will be held at Puente del Rey

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Tickets are very reasonable and are available at: http://tinyurl.com/veranosdelavilla

For the complete calendar and venues of the Veranos de la Villa, please consult www.madrid.es and http://www.veranosdelavilla.com/index.php/en/ .

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* Click here for the Guidepost article on Rio Madrid

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