Madrid Movies and Music

Looking  for something to do this weekend? Well, La Casa Encendida is filling “La Terraza” with their summer music and film presentations.  La Terraza suena will rock out with underground music from around the globe.  This Sunday, August 22nd, Toro y Moi will be on stage giving us a look at the unique musical stylings of Chaz Bundick and a taste of his contribution to the musical genre, chillwave.  Cine en La Terraza’s theme this year is “Through the Looking Glass” and takes a look at the influence of Lewis Carroll in cinema.  This week’s movie is Juliet of the Spirits, a classic from one of the world’s greatest directors, Federico Fellini.  For all the info on the music series click here and for the film presentation click here.

La Casa Encendida always pushes the envelope when it comes to exhibitions, and the summer music and cinema presentations are no exception.

Where: La Casa Encendida
Metro: Embajadores

By Coleman File

Madrid Weekend Roundup

It’s difficult to find motivation during weekends right in the middle of the “dog days” of August, especially if you’re stuck in Madrid while everyone else is out and about on their summer vacations.  With that in mind MAP is going to provide you with a few options that won’t break your budget and that you can find right here in Madrid, just a little something to get you by until the city comes back to life.

First, if you haven’t checked out the Circulo de Bellas Artes open rooftop views, then you must head over to the CBA immediately to see the spectacular views of Madrid.  The Veranos de la Villa music series is winding down, which hosted a slew of performances including the Blues Brothers founding member Lou Marini performing with the blues/jazz duo Red House.  Also in the Veranos de la Villa line up is STOMP, which is still playing at Teatro Coliseum.  If relaxation is what you want, then head over to Retiro park for some FREE yoga and meditation sponsored by the group LGTB BuHo.  In Retiro at “El Huerto del Francés” from 19:00 p.m. until 21:30 p.m. enjoy yoga for the first hour and then meditation to close it out.  There are still some great outdoor movie series going on right now, Veranos de La Villa sponsors two of them and the other is Cine de Verano brought to us by the Comunidad de Madrid.  This weekend you can catch some great flicks such as:  Doubt, The Curios Case of Benjamin Button, Up in the Air, Inglorious Bastards, The Lovely Bones, A Serious Man and many more.  And don’t forget about the celebrations this Sunday for the Virgin of Paloma in La Latina.

Hopefully this will help guide you through the weekends hot weather and empty streets.

By Coleman File

Madrid Festival: La Latina Fiestas

Madrid Art: New Exhibition at The Prado Museum

Until September 26th, one can catch a historically relevant and aesthetically different exhibit at Madrid’s most famous fine arts museum, The Prado. The Mercury and Herse Series is a show that consists of a sequence of tapestries that were woven with silken strands of real gold. The series retells the love story of Mercury and Herse, as written by Ovid. The tale is one of love and jealousy with three main characters, Mercury, Herse and Aglauros. Through eight panels, the exhibit portrays Mercury’s descent to earth, his seduction of Herse, Aglauros’ metamorphosis, the ultimate triumph of the Mercury and Herses’ love, and everything in between. The tapestries are mounted in frames that were based on designs by Raphael and made originally for a series of tapestries that would be hung in the Sistine Chapel.

The artist, Willem Pannemaker (1535-1581) was a son of the most prominent family of tapestry-weavers in Brussels. He is undoubtedly the most recognized tapestry-weaver of the Flemish Renaissance and eventually worked for the aristocracy and for multiple European courts. Among the many royal figures for whom he supplied magnificent tapestries was Carlos I of Spain.

Where: The Prado
Address: Ruíz de Alarcón, 23
Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays 9:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m.
(Free Access Tuesdays – Saturdays from 18:00 p.m. – 20:00 p.m.)
Cost: 8 euros for adults, 4 euros for students and seniors with ID.
Metro: Banco de España

By Chloe Nash

Madrid Theater: Divorced, Evangelical and Vegetarian

I will start off with an unspoken truth that is fitting to this drama: “chick flicks” are not just for girls if they meet one expectation: beautiful actresses. I mean, lets face it – we all know that if a man goes to a girly, silly film with his spouse, he will walk out content if there was womanly beauty to make up for the so-called “lack” of substance. Well, not to say that this play lacks any substance (it is in fact quite profound), but it is one of the few theatrical dramas that could be considered a “chick flick.” However, for ladies and gentlemen alike, it is a charming play.

Beatrice, Gloria and Meche, stunning young women, find themselves overwhelmed by loneliness and fear of change. Their similar struggles with letting go of the past and their failed relationships make them come together to form a triangle of support. Despite their differences (Beatrice is divorced, romantic and dreamy, Gloria is a devout protestant, and Meche is a progressive vegetarian), they establish a friendship built on the mutual sensation of being lost and lonely. Yet it is this very friendship that becomes a doorway into the emergence of three independent, happy women. Although the drama has a slight cheese factor, it is unquestionably a truthful and universal account of friendship between women. The play is based on the book (of the same name) by Venezualen Gustavo Ott.

When: July 8^th – August 29^th, 2010
Where: Teatro Compac de Gran Vía
Address: Gran Vía, 66
When: Wednesday – Friday at 21:00 p.m. Saturday at 22:30 p.m. and Sunday at 19:00 p.m.
Price: 12-25 euros
Tickets can be bought at the box office between 17:00 p.m. and the start of the performance or at (+34) 902 488 488.

By Chloe Nash

August ConcertMAP

As we all know, Madrid in August is just not the place to be; the heat is unbearable, the locals all head for the beach, students go home and venues shut down for the month.  With that in mind we here at MAP won’t waste your time with a paper-thin list of concerts in August.  Instead, we’ll be looking ahead at some big name concerts that have recently been announced and give you a preview of what to look for when you get back from partying in Ibiza.  So have a look at your August ConcertMAP featuring the top 5 upcoming shows to close out the 2010 live music scene in Madrid:

#1

Arcade Fire 11/20 – Palacio de Deportes:  I hesitate to use too many phrases like “can’t miss” and “must see” but the truth is there won’t be a better concert to come to Madrid in the entire year.  On August 3^rd the Arcade Fire is set to release, The Suburbs, one of the most anticipated rock albums in recent memory and their first in over three years.  The notoriously illusive group has only set a select few concert dates so far and it just so happens that Madrid has made this exclusive list, so don’t find yourself left out.

#2

Sting w/the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra 10/30 – Palacio de Deportes:  The iconic figure that is Sting joins forces with London’s Royal Philharmonic for the appropriately named Symphonicity tour. The goal of the collaboration is not just a simple rehashing of Sting’s classic tunes but a complete orchestral update giving each song a new life.  The Royal Philharmonic may be one of the few names that can compare with that of Sting’s and seeing how the two come together on-stage promises to be a truly great concert.

#3

MGMT 12/17 – La Riviera:  After their successful debut album, Oracular Spectacular, which included some of the liveliest dance-rock tracks you’ll find, MGMT changed gears with 2010’s Congratulations.  Topping their anthemic dance floor tunes “Kids”, “Time to Pretend” and “Electric Feel” might have been nearly impossible so the duo of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden opted to go back to their musical roots for their sophomore project.  While the change most likely shocked some fans, it might have been better than trying to top the songs which drove the dance floors in 2008 (and still do) and at the same time it expands the group’s musical base.  Trying to dissect these two musically may be difficult but their concert offers you a chance to get a look at one of the most popular groups touring today.

#4

Interpol 11/13 – Palacio Vistalegre:  As one of the pioneers of the early 2000s rock scene in New York, Interpol may seem like yesterdays news but rather than ride off into the musical sunset the group is set to release its fourth album, Lights, on September 7^th.  Accordingly, the group has embarked on a huge world tour that, thankfully, will be passing through Madrid.

#5 Tie

Elton John 10/02 & Lady Gaga 12/12 – Palacio de Deportes:  These two tied for the final spot based on name alone and their somewhat similar flamboyance.  While Lady Gaga is easily the most recognizable face in pop music today, Sir Elton has held that distinction for some time and the two concerts offer you a chance to see how musical tastes have evolved over the years.  Elton is teaming-up with long time friend and collaborator Ray Cooper for a recreation of their incredible 1970s tours.  Gaga is taking full advantage of her insurmountable popularity with a series of large scale gigs dubbed the Monster Ball tour.  The veteran chart topper and pop star of the moment will both be coming to Madrid and their tickets promise to sell out fast.

There are also a number of honorable mentions that could have made the list, but this is a look at the biggest names that will be passing through Madrid to help close out one of the best years in live music that Madrid has ever seen.  You’re most likely out on the road for August, but when you get back make sure to book your tickets for these shows and have a final look at MAP ’s list of music festivals as we head into August and close out the summer.

Madrid Free Art Exhibition: Fair Trade: A product, A Story

In this progressive exhibition, art is used as a vehicle for education. Through audiovisual material, objects, and photographs, Fair Trade: A Product, A Story didactically explains the significance and process of developing and marketing fair trade products in the modern world. The exhibition poignantly prompts reflection on the necessary responsibility of consumption and the importance of good conditions and quality of life for farmers and producers. The subject matter in the show is based on the most exemplifying products of fair trade – coffee, cotton, cocoa and sugar.

The show has already been a success in Barcelona, and will travel to Mallorca, Spain, after its conclusion in Madrid. Through simple yet moving images, the show instills in its viewer the knowledge that there is a story and complex series of interactions behind everything we eat.

The fair trade label, an alternative to conventional consumption, guarantees the wholesome responsibility to both the environment and to society. In Spain, there are 33 companies that manufacture their own certified fair trade products. Although this is a promising start, Spain, like every other modern country, ought to be producing more fair trade products. Of course, this shift, like any social change, starts with education. The venue, The Caixa Forum, has taken on a moral cause with this show, gracefully merging art and social action. Check it out before it’s over and help make it a success.
Where: The Caixa Forum
Address: Paseo del Prado, 36
When – Now until August 29^th
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m. every day
Cost: Free
Metro: Atocha

By Chloe Nashe

Madrid Summer Events: Magical Farm Nights

Let me start by saying, this is not exactly what it sounds like! Yes, the events take place on a farm, but there is neither hay nor animals involved. Music, dance and circus are a few of the different spectacles that will constitute this year’s program. Some of the most-anticipated summer cultural events will be found at the month-long festival. Among the glut of artistic performances is the second annual International Festival of Magic, which will take place during two evenings. The Third Annual International Festival of Music and Dance is another main attraction, boasting renowned artists from many nooks of the world. The National Acrobatic Circus from Pekin, China, will also be a well-attended show.  With a dream-like set, a rural venue, and a lucid assortment of events, the festival is by far one of Madrid’s most progressive and unique summertime cultural offerings.

Located about an hour outside of the center of Madrid (in the direction of Segovia), the San Ildefonso Farm is a lovely escape from the August heat. For information on how to get to the farm, e-mail the office at info@turismorealsitiodesanildefonso.com or call (+34) 91 328 90 20. Trains and buses are common modes of transportation, as well as cars.

When: July 16th – August 24th
Where: Patio Central of San Ildefonso Farm

By Chloe Nash

Madrid Cabaret: Passion Without Daggers

Before you read any further, let me assure you that this is not your typical cabaret show. The audience is young, fun and funky – there is no sleaze factor here! Furthermore, the show is a creative combination of good dance, visuals and music.  Apart from being a nighttime refuge from the heat, the borderline sultry performance consists of “strange and ambiguous creatures” that will pull you into an unreal world like a great book.  The sensual circus-like show is a unique blend of burlesque and quality choreography. With a dark and dreamy undertone and the Price Orchestra playing in the background, the viewers are drawn into a space that muddles the lines between reality and fiction. As the Teatro Circo Price website claims, the performance will “bite the heart of Madrid as if it were a red apple.”

It has been noted by many that cabaret and burlesque have experienced a recent revival throughout Europe, perhaps as a reaction against multimillion dollar productions that have come to characterize the modern world of entertainment.  Although this cabaret is brimming with visual distinction and impressive effects, it is without a doubt a step away from technology and a return to people as the source of art.

The aim of Passion Without Daggers is to unite artists and audience through uncanny intimacy. The members of the show are known for their ability to stir and provoke. If you are looking for a little escape from your world and the heat, grab a ticket while the group is still around.

Where: Teatro Circo Price
Address: Ronda de Atocha, 35
When: July 1 – July 31
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 21:00 p.m. Saturdays 18:00 p.m. Sundays 21:30 p.m.
Cost: Depends on location of table and number of guests. Average cost for a shared table (seats 4) is 30 Euro.
Metro: Atocha or Embajadores

By Chloe Nash

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Free Art Exhibition in Madrid: Federico Fellini. The Circus of Illusions.

This innovative expedition explores the creative trajectory and nearly mystic air of the legendary Italian film director, Federico Fellini. The show projects Fellini’s artistic spirit and character onto the walls through more than 400 works of art – photos, drawings, magazines, posters and fragments of films. The images and media present the legendary film figure through the lens of his many obsessions – stylistic, aesthetic, and everyday inclinations are captured through this multi-media time capsule.

Although the show is essentially a tribute to a renowned artist, it is not your typical biography-exhibition. The art is not ordered chronologically, but thematically. The different sections are, “Fellini and Pop Culture,” “Fellini in His Work, ” “The City of the Women,” and “Fellini or the Biographical Invention.” These different settings embrace the themes that have characterized Fillini’s films such as myth, caricature, the feminine universe, the ambiguity of religious sentiments, and many other compelling notions that will enhance your perspective of and understanding for the renowned Federico Fellini.

Where: Caixa Forum Madrid
Address: Paseo del Prado, 36
When: Now – December 26, 2010
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m. every day
Cost: Free!
Metro: Atocha

By Chloe Nash

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1. Paseo del Prado, 36

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