The Lion King (El Rey León)
Seen by over 85 million people around the world, there’s no other music as acclaimed as The Lion King. Becoming one of the major theatrical events of Madrid, with its animated sculptures and enchanting music, The Lion King has completed a run of six consecutive seasons, making it the first musical in Spain to achieve this.
The Lion King is a journey to the African savannah, an explosion of sound and colour. Born out of the talent of such popular artists as Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M. and Hans Zimmer, and director Julie Taymor, the musical adaptation of the Disney movie merges a vast array of performing art disciplines from African, Western and Eastern origins. The Lion King’s success has led to adaptations all over the world, one of them staged in Madrid at Teatro Lope de Vega since October 2011.
The Lion King is the most important musical in the history of the genre on Broadway, reaching an unsurpassable sales volume since its premiere in 1997 and has become the biggest musical box-office hit. The theme, sets and magic are unmistakably Disney. The Lion King has run in 18 countries and was translated into eight different languages. Spain is the first Spanish-speaking country to stage the show through Stage Entertainment, producers of such big hits as Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables.
Premiered in New York, The Lion King became one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history, making unprecedented earnings, receiving as many as 70 international awards, and being seen by over 85 million people since then.
You’ll see a multicultural cast made of over 50 actors from all over the world who, alongside the dance and music, create a magical show that’ll remain in your memory for years to come.
La Verbena de la Paloma
Returning to the Spanish stage, Conductor Lorenzo Moncloa has recovered the libretto by Ricardo de la Vega and the music of Tomas Breton. To the Spanish stage, the most international of its zarzuela operettas, La Verbena de la Paloma.
Taking place in one of Madrid’s most popular districts in 1894, the date when it first opened, during the festivity of the “Virgen de La Paloma”. But Julian is in no mood to celebrate because he suspects that Susana, his beloved, does not want to go to the celebration with him so that she can go with a lover instead. Susana, who is fed up with Julian’s constant jealousy, decides to accept the propositions of Don Hilarion. This leads to numerous inbroglios between the characters.
This fanciful story, which has been made into a film on three occasions, features magnificent musical numbers such as Una morena y una rubia and the classic Donde vas con manton de Manila?
Carmen – Victor Ullate Ballet
Created by the famous choreographer, Victor Ullate, Carmen, portrays his particular vision of the opera by Georges Bizet.
The group led by Ullate, without losing tradition but modernising the classic style and structure, presents a 21st century Carmen, a sensual gypsy girl who steals the heart of the corporal, Don Jose. The love he feels for the beautiful woman makes the soldier reject his previous partner. Rise up against his superior in the army and desert his army life. However, these sacrifices are in vain when Carmen decides to give her affection of bullfighter, Escamillo.
The French composer brings the necessary rhythm and beat to develop a spectacular choreography that represents an unequalled tale of attraction and seduction between two characters who see how their love is born and fades away.
