The City of Art, Culture and Hedonism

Emociones Vocales del Futuro – Avant-garde vocalisation at it's finest

2010-06-25T14:58:00.002+02:00

“Emociones vocales del futuro” is a project by VocaalLab, the Netherlands based international workspace for avant-garde vocal music; collaborating with the Teatro Real and the CMDC with an international group of exciting young singers, this unusual workshop concluded with a set of performances in the Sala Gayarre at the top of Madrid's Teatro Real.

More than just a musical anthology of contemporary vocal music showcasing new talent, “Emociones vocales del futuro” is a strong piece of performance art which stands alone. With modern classics such as Schönberg's “Der buch der Hängenden gärten” and Kagel's “Turm zu Babel”, a libretto translated from a Biblical fragment into various languages, performed in: English, French, Dutch, Greek and Hebrew; but also includes the work of contemporary composers such as Hungary's György Kurtág and the Spanish Álvaro Martínez León, performed in conjunction with movement, creative staging and intense expression.

The first act sets the scene for a party: the singers sport champagne glasses and elegant attire with the concert piano as the social hub. The performance leads you in slowly to the familiar grounds of traditional opera staging, where motion is generic and limited to embraces and dramatic strolls across the stage; but the dynamic evolves as random movements become prevalent and choreographed sign language flows into a sexual and maddened frenzy. Traditional vocal techniques expand using motion of the body with a conscious ability to enhance and constrict sound to push the limitations of the human voice further. The singers display their versatile talent with acrobatic contortions and sensual motion; a departure from the traditional statuesque poses taken up by most classical singers, exampled by the multi-talented Laura Bohn who belts out Schönberg with a great virtuosity, before crawling up the wall like an inverted arachnid. The act climaxes as the singers propel the grand piano across the floor into the doorway behind the stage, swinging and climbing from it with bacchanal intoxication.

A mental institution stages the next act, allowing absolute free reign in the anything goes territory. Vocal experimentation goes beyond standard singing to explore the uncharted art form breathing, clicking and throat singing. Motion still dominates as spanish soprano Carolina Barca gives a breathtaking rendition of Luciano Berio's Sequenza III, with the voice amplified, distorted and controlled using the cupping of the hands and the positions of the body in fluid movements projecting madness. Frantic insanity is coupled later with the short, post-modern brevity of the Hungarian piece “Tandoori-leider” composed by Kurtág and with a passionate performance by Bolivian lyric-soprano, Sara Sabag, accompanied by a haunting lone violin. “Le voisin d'en face” by Spanish composer Álvaro Martínez León closes the performance as a complete departure from classical singing, as an exploration of breathing and moans in the context of music, exploding like orgy in an asylum, going above and beyond the usual vocal expectations and cutting all boundaries and performed a cappella.

Individual pieces from various composers in several languages linked together by effective staging, with an excellent range and talent of singers who not only give a stunning vocal rendition but also breathtaking choreography and raw expression makes “Emociones vocales del futuro” a unique show. At times, some things appear gratuitous, which is a common pitfall in art with an edge, fortunately while some of the choreography seemed random, the majority was not without meaning. As with all avant-garde work, this project is an acquired taste and best suited to those seeking an experience which lingers on the fringes of modernity and convention. “Emociones vocales del futuro” is not an opera nor a recital, but a multimedia of art forms.

Opera - Der fliegende Holländer by Richard Wagner

2010-01-13T23:03:00.003+01:00

Wagner is back at the Teatro Real with “The Flying Dutchman” or thats “Der fliegende Holländer” in German to you. One of his shorter operas in comparison to the usual five hours I've sat through whenever I've gone to a Wagner opera.

Full of Romantic, 19th century ideals, “The Flying Dutchman” tells the story of a cursed sea-captain doomed to sail the seas for eternity; every seven years he gets a day off when set foot on land, so like every horn-dog sailor he searches for a woman. But the Dutchman is no randy seaman as he he searching for a good wife who will be faithful to him till “death do us apart”, through her loyalty he'll find salvation.

With movie-like titles projected onto the curtain announcing that the opera “Der fliegende Holländer” by Richard Wagner is about to start, the music resonates throughout the auditorium. The opera opens with Act I, set in the North Sea off the coast of Norway. A projection of waves are seen in the background, and the stage is set to look like a modern day Nordic fishing boat – at the moment the setting is simple but effective. Daland, the ships captain, goes off for a nap leaving his helmsman in charge of keeping watch. The tenor, Vincente Ombuena, sings the song of the helmsman which is passionate and lyrical dedicated to his beloved back at home, it is full of nostalgia and longing. The helmsman is not a very good watchman as he falls asleep pretty quickly on duty. While he slumbers a large ship is projected moving into the background to obscure the wave, effective and dramatic effect which moves in time to the music. The large white letters on a rust background fade into view with the words “HOLLANDER” on it, a little bit tacky since it just means “Dutchman” in German, however most people wont know this so this is a forgivable mistake.

Our Dutchman comes on the scene, oddly staged on the platform below despite the little ship being raised above - his ship is supposed to be bigger and therefore wouldn't he be above? Danish baritone Johan Reuter laments his story of damnation to moving lyric of Wagner's music with a strong voice and subtle charisma fitting of this tormented hero. His yearns are convincing and we empathise with his instantly with his woes.

Daland (Hans-Peter König) finds the watchman doing his job; but that's the least of his worries when he sees a great big boat parked right next to him. Daland calls to the alien ship, and its captain reveals himself to be a Dutchman. He makes his big entrance down a rusty plank (again oddly staged since before we saw him down below) and reveals to Daland that he is loaded with precious jewels and gemstones. The Dutchman wastes no time in asking the captain if he has an unmarried daughter, and by the convenience of fiction and drama he: a beautiful, young and single daughter. Daland is a bit struck for cash and agrees that his daughter to be married off to the pale foreigner with the big rusty boat for a packet of gems. The Dutchman is excited at not only about finally getting a woman after years going insane at sea - but more importantly for the loyal wife who would break his curse.

Act II opens with a chorus of women in a fish factory, and a very dreamy looking Senta walks around carrying a little boat with red sails. She is soon joined by Mary, who in this production plays some kind of manager of the factory and suffers an identity crisis of being a young woman who wants to dress like a frumpy matron with terrible clothes and good make up, although German Mezzo-Soprano Nadine Weissman plays the role convincingly considering what she was allowed to work with, but at least her fabulous voice was allowed to shine through.

Senta tells her and the other women about the legend of the Flying Dutchman – this man damned to sail the seas in an eternity in boredom and despair. She naively wishes it to be her destiny to become his loyal wife and salvation – I guess she'll be happy at what Daddy is bringing her home then. German Soprano Anja Kampe sings the ballad with Leitmotiv beautifully and with great clarity, but the attention to her remarkable voice is distracted by a small object moving up on the wires. Even sitting in the 3rd row down in front I had trouble trying to discern what this object was... soon I realised it was a tiny toy boat, and I experienced deja vu back to the Stonehenge scene in This is Spinal Tap – having a spoof heavy metal go off in my brain while I tried to concentrate on Wagner was rather distracting.

Senta's ex Eric (Stephen Gould) over hears her passionate desires and is upset; he tells Senta of his dream that her father came back with a stranger from the sea for her to marry - he should get himself a tent and a crystal ball and charge people money with insightful talent like that. Surprise, surprise – Daland comes home with a new gift for Senta, a brand new husband who she doesn't know, fortunately it's love at first sight between the two. There is little acting or physical interaction between Senta and the Dutchman, but there is chemistry between them which electrifies the air. The look they give each other is genuine, but understated. A curiosity, an interest and a cautiousness between these two strangers. The execution between the two singers is excellent, it is subtle and effective – so why did the director place two extras in the background making out when he had such a talented cast to work with I don't know. I guess he wanted to home in the point they were falling in love, but the effect was cheap. The duet between the Dutchman and Senta is sublime, with the passionate and erotic charge you only get from Wagner's music.

Act III. At this point the director drives me crazy. The curtain is down and the letters ACT III are projected the same as the past two acts, which is fine and clean, but having a random cyclist go across stage shortly followed by a gratuitous Labrador then followed by a group of girls who run after a guy stripping his clothes off; all so contrived and ill fitting to the music. It played no part in the plot or symbolism or music - just pure gimmickry. Also during the storm, already effectively executed by the wonderful chorus, the director sticks random naked women spazzing out behind glass windows in the background, for no reasons other than shock factor. I am not a prude. I do not mind nudity on stage, but if things are just shocking for no reason I find this a show of poor directing, trying to be “avant-guard” for the sake of it. The ending too is poorly staged when you see the Dutchman walk off stage via the rocks, followed by Senta declaring to save him and jumps off the rocks in the same direction – does she jump onto the boat or does she kill herself? It's left too dubious and makes me wonder if the director got confused thinking he was directing Tosca.

Overall musically the show is wonderful, the cast is intensely good and one of the very few productions I have seen where the entire cast is strong, the chorus too did a fantastic job. The music, conducted by Jesús López Cobos is also flawless and raw with emotion, sensuality and drama. Musically this is one of the best productions I have seen in a long time.

The staging – as you may have guessed – annoyed me. It is not the worst production I have seen. The general staging, not including the irrelevant and annoying gimmicks was OK, but just Ok The singers were not made to act, and it was evident that they could. The setting was bland and executed mediocre at best. This is a fascinating story and a lot could be done to bring it out, but it's a sign of poor directing when the only way to follow the show is by keeping up with the subtitles. A pity as I like being able to follow the narrative from the stage and not just from skimming the libretto; the gimmicks just added insult to injury.
Overall I do highly recommend this production – if only for the talented cast and the wonderful music. I thoroughly enjoyed the two and a half hours of this production, but there is no interval so don't drink too much before going in. Definitely a must to check out if you are a Wagner fan or even new to Wagner as this is a nice introduction to the maestro.

Dates:14,15,17,19,20,22,23,24,26,27,28 of January
Location: Teatro Real, Plaza Oriente
Transport:Metro line 5,line 2, R (Opera) or line 1, line 3(Sol)
Prices:Without discount (16€-151€) ages 26 or under at last minute tickets get 90% off!

A taste of Jerez

2010-01-05T21:15:00.000+01:00

C/ Echegaray lies, hidden, in the backstreets close to Sol. This quiet and almost desolate street in the district of Huertas is the quiet, humble neighbour to the popular and ever-bustling C/ Principe. The innocent lost tourist may stumble into the street by mistake, but would backtrack thinking they had entered the neighbourhood of the dead and dodgy. What is not apparent to the naive glances of lost tourists is that this sleepy central calle houses - in my opinion - one of the best bars in Madrid: La Venencia, a bar dedicated entirely to sherry. If you dislike this Andalucian fortified wine then I advise you to stop reading right now, but lovers of Jerez pay close attention. La Venencia specialises showcasing different types of sherry, also serving tapas at low prices, specially selected to compliments the delicate notes of this aperitif.

The bar looks unchanged by time, a time capsule preserved from 50 years back. Antique posters, yellowed by decades of cigarette smoke, line the bar and advertise their mascot drink. The walls flake in decaying charm and the bar itself is laden with barrels and old dusty glass bottles. To accompany the old, quaint character of the place - photos are explicitly forbidden! Many times I have been berated for taking photos; their philosophy to escape the tourist trap. Inconvenient when one wants to preserve memories of laughter and drink, it does add to the atmosphere of the place. Tips are also verboten, and are greeted with a frown and the money forcefully returned back to you. In Spain tips are not generally welcome and are even considered insulting in some places. After 3 years of living here I still haven't grasped the etiquette of the tipping procedure.

La Venencia serves 5 types of sherry: Manzanilla, Fino, Oloroso, Amontillado and Palo Cortado. These can be bought by the glass, the bottle and half bottle. This gives you the perfect opportunity to try out the full spectrum of sherry available. Manzanilla and Fino are dry sherries, coloured a light gold and probably the best for the starting novice or if you are partial very dry white wine. The stronger brands of sherries are the Oloroso and Amontillado which approach a brandy in strength and viscosity. Palo Cortado is an acquired taste - it is very strong and aromatic and undoubtedly my personal favourite of all the sherries offered in La Venencia.

The range of tapas include the complimentary campo real olives - green, juicy gems which burst with sweetness and savoury flavour. Other tapas can be brought for as little as 1euro for small tapa to 5euros for a big racion, which includes cheeses, cecina - a cured beef ham, mojama - a cured tuna ham, salchichon, chorizo and others. This place not only maintains an authentic, non-touristic philosophy, but also retains local and good prices. Highly recommended if you are looking for something authentic and cheap.

Theatre Review - Poe

2009-10-19T13:52:00.003+02:00

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe's birth, and what a better way to pave the way for Halloween then to dedicate a play to his best works. The Madrid Players are an English language amateur theatrical group based in Madrid, and will be paying tribute to this master of the Gothic and the Macabre in the small theatre the Teatro Liberarte.

The theatre is located in the back streets just behind Bravo Murillo close to Valdeacederas/Plaza Castilla. Walking there feels like going into the middle of no where as this part of Madrid is quiet and residential, with not much life in its streets. Suddenly, upon turning into the street Francisca Conde, suddenly there is an overflow of people coming out of the theatre.

The theatre itself is charming. It is very small, the lobby is covered but the garage door hoisted up makes it exposed to the street. There is a small bar, and a small ticket office. The lobby is decorated with quirky antiques, paintings and antiques, giving it a Gothic feel to the place. Even the bathroom is decorated as if they had called in Tim Burton as the internal designer. The theatre performance hall itself is hidden behind a door covered by a heavy velvet curtain. It is a nice size, not too small or big, comfy velvet lined seats and also consistent with the theatrical Gothic decoration with its grand chandelier and it's own Raven perched on one of the shelves. I caught myself wondering many times if the theatre had been decorated for the show especially, but the details were so meticulous, that is seemed unrealistic to assume such a tiny theatre would put an effort into the decoration for one show.

The show opened with the room blackening out and having Lou Reed blasted into the room, however it was unfortunate that the sound system left a lot to be desired, however this was a small theatre and an amateur production so I tried to lower my expectations. The mood became eerier as the players entered and creating an asylum on stage. This first act was creatively done. The gruesome characters of insane asylum recited their individual stories from the poetry and tales of Edgar Allen Poe, including The Tell-Tale Heart and Berenice. This was a very effective way to tell the short stories and poetry of Poe. It was eerie, sinister and atmospheric, an effective way of using Poe's work. The acting was very good and I forgot this was an amateur production.

The part of the second act which stood out was when there were two tramps telling the two stories simultaneously of The Black Cat and Never Bet the Devil Your Head. Again some very effective staging to use Poe's work.

After the interval the show continued with a recital of Poe's A Predicament. You see a headless woman to one side and the head sitting on a table narrating the story, one of Poe's short story which was about a woman who loses her head after putting it through the aperture of a giant clock in a church tower. Very funny and gruesome and well done. This was then followed by The Fall of the House of Usher which was the highlight of the whole production. The actor playing Roderick Usher was superb and perfect for the role. The scene was done traditionally and gave a real creepy atmosphere to the production. The play was then concluded with a recital of The Raven one of Poe's most famous works. All in all a wonderfully delightful play full of atmosphere, music and even humour. I was very impressed both by the Madrid Players and the Teatro Liberarte. I shall definitely be going to both again in the future that is certain.

Poe is running in the Teatro Liberarte, C/Francisca Conde 7, Metro:Valdecederas (L1), Ventilla (L9).
Dates: 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th October, 21:00 Weekdays and Saturday, 20:00 Sundays.
Price: 12euros on the door or 8euros if you book in advance via http://www.atrapalo.com.

Una Noche Andalúz en Madrid

2009-10-18T17:54:00.002+02:00

Flamenco is an art-form traditionally associated with the gypsies of Andalucia. To find good Flamenco in Spain one would look to the back streets of the Barrío de Santa Crúz in Sevilla or the caves of Granada. However fortunately, Madrid being both the geographical and cultural centre of Spain, one can find every tradition and Spanish art-form from different regions here, the art of Flamenco no exception.

Flamenco can be found in "tablaos", classy nightclubs where one can reserve a table, enjoy drinks and tapas and watch a show of Flamenco. At the end of Plaza España, is the charming little Flamenco nightclub calle "Las Tablas". This classy place does live Flamenco shows every night, from music to dance. Las Tablas is a small venue with a limited number of tables giving the place an intimate atmosphere. With everything directed perfectly towards the stage makes for comfortable viewing of any show there. The experience is intense, intimate and cosy. It allows the audience to really feel the passion and the sensuality of flamenco. Las Tablas also offers a good wine selection, along with popular bar drinks and has an excellent tapas menu, giving you the opportunity to feel Spain with all the senses.

For more information on the program and details of Las Tablas go to www.lastablasmadrid.com

Opera - Lulu by Alban Berg

2009-10-13T14:14:00.001+02:00

Lulu kicks off the Teatro Real's season which looks at the theme of female protagonists. Composed in 1935 by Alban Berg, Lulu was an unfinished opera, as the composer died before he had the chance to finish it. The first two acts were all that remained of the score, and was premiered in 1937 unfinished in Zurich. Following Berg's death, the vocal score completing Act III was written by Erwin Stein, with the orchestration by Arnold Schoenberg at the request of Berg's widow. The completed opera was finally premiered in Paris in 1979.

Based on the plays “Pandora's Box” (as is the famous silent film of the same name starring Louise Brookes) and “Earth Spirit”, Lulu is the tale of a fallen woman who becomes a victim of her circumstances due to the projection and desires of the men who surround her life. Tragedy befalls her as her first two husbands die, the first of a heart attack and the second of suicide – both linked to Lulu's countless admirers and infidelity. Her third husband tries to make Lulu kill herself with a revolver but she shoots him instead and is sent to prison. Lulu manages to escape from prison by her admirers and escapes across the border to France. As a fugitive she is blackmailed in Paris for 20,000 marks or she will be denounced or sent to a Cairo brothel. She flees Paris to end up in London as a prostitute and falls into the hands of Jack the Ripper and is brutally murdered.

Lulu, even as a story is very intense and uncomfortable. It is a story which follows a downward spiral of continuous tragedy. This accompanied by the twelve-tone score of Alban Berg results in an opera which draws on the emotions with such intensity that one watching and listening to this piece can feel every single muscle tense up in the body. This opera is exhausting - the music is exhausting and the story is uncomfortable. This production in the Teatro Real uses a minimalist setting which puts an extra edge to the discomfort this opera makes you feel. It is not an opera for the feint hearted. The night I went to see it the opera house became half empty by the end of the second act, and a significant amount of people had gone by the first. My reaction and that of my friend's after the first act was “we need a drink”. We felt nervously exhausted and tensed up from the drama and music of the first act. However the story was so compelling that we stayed for the full opera.

The cast was excellent. The Soprano who played Lulu and the Mezzo-Soprano as the Countess Geschwitz were both excellent. Nice voices and strong. I can't imagine how difficult this opera must be to perform, with the difficult and unusual modern twelve-tone score and all the drama and acting required for the roles. Considering these factors the cast made it seem effortless, their voices cut through the orchestra clearly, they maintained a good amount of energy both in singing and in acting. Musically and dramatically the show was outstanding.

The production is very good. However this is not an opera one can enjoy easily like a Mozart or Rossini piece. This one takes all the emotions and shoves it in a blender, leaving you an emotionally exhausted wreck. As a piece of art it is fantastic and avant-garde and does what it intends to do – bring the emotions, the pain, the tragedy to the viewer. Worth a one time viewing, but this is not light entertainment.

Dates:14,16 of October
Location: Teatro Real, Plaza Oriente
Transport:Metro line 5,line 2, R (Opera) or line 1, line 3(Sol)
Prices:Without discount (16€-151€) ages 26 or under at last minute tickets get 90% off!

Exhibition: ¡1914! Avant-Garde and the Great War (Part 1)

2008-10-19T14:44:00.003+02:00

In Madrid the big temporary exhibition going on at the moment is ¡1914! Avant-Garde and the Great War exhibit held in two parts in the Thyssen-Bornemisza gallery and the Fundación Caja Madrid. Yesterday I decided to check out the part of the exhibit held in the Fundación Caja Madrid. The main advantage for doing this exhibit first in this centre was because it was free so my friends and I could see if it was something which interested us.

The Fundación Caja Madrid is located near Sol and it a very nicely laid out gallery. Lots of open spaces and very elegant. It consists of a grand hall which is on two levels, and some back rooms.

This part of the exhibition deals with the themes:

-Apocalypse of our time
-Artist and Soldier
-Cubism in the Trenches
-The Stigma of Damnation
-C'est la Guerre!

It is a rather intense exhibition and can make one rather uncomfortable. Which I suppose means it is indeed good art because its initial aim is to shock and make a strong statement. With dramatic and impressionable art from George Grosz, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Wilhelm Lembruck this is an exhibit worth going to. However it is something that will un-nerve you and I know in my case it was not an exhibition I felt comfortable lingering on. I very much enjoyed seeing the works of George Grosz who this exhibition has made me realise is probably an artist that could go up there with my favourites. His Metropolis is one of the key stars of the exhibit along with Kirchner's Artillerymen. Thought provoking, powerful and impressionable. It is an exhibit which really captured the atmosphere of horror and intensity of the first World War.

Dates: 07/10/08-11/01/09
Location: Fundación Caja Madrid; Plaza San Martín 1
Transport: Metro: line 1,2,3,(Sol), line 2,5(Opera) line 3,5(Callao),
Buses: 1,2,3,5,15,25,29,44,50,51,53,146,148 and 150
Hours: Tue-Sun (10am-8pm), closed Mon.
Price: Free

Opera: Un Ballo in Maschera - Guiseppe Verdi

2008-10-08T00:18:00.006+02:00

Before I launch into a review on this opera I want to point out something very useful to those aged 26 and under. The Teatro Real Opera house has a special offer for that age group regarding last minute tickets. From 6.30pm (or 4.30pm on Sundays) on the evening of the show they start to sell last minute tickets at 90% discount!! So you can get the best seats in the house at a mere 15€! All you need to do is bring ID with you and it is a good idea to check how many tickets are still available on the webpage and get there around 5.30-6 to queue.

I went into Un Ballo in Maschera completely ignorant about this opera except for the fact it was by Verdi. It is the first opera of the season and I am going to try to motivate myself to go to all or nearly of the operas on in the Teatro Real this season, especially as I am fortunate enough to be applicable for the last minute discount.

The story is standard opera - love triangles, plotting, death, passionate declarations of love etc. All very Verdi. It is set in Boston (I believe originally the setting was 18th Century but the production was done in the 19th century).

The opera opens with a very simple set, almost minimalistic with just lush fabric and paintings as backdrop amidst a fancy chorus of men in period dress. The music is full, intense and wonderfully sung. It immediately throws you into the opera which has a style bordering on Opera Comique style. The tenor playing Count Riccardo is singing amazingly well from the start, bold, clear and full of emotion. The baritone cast as Renato is a little bit quiet and overshadowed by the tenor accompanying him on stage but he really comes into full force as the opera continues and significantly improves.

The next scene is designed almost modernist style with an industrial style fence and wiring that looks almost like a modern, urban scene yet filled with people in period clothing. This is the den of the witch Ulrica, whom the Count goes to see in disguise. He sees his beloved Amelia - wife to his best friend and secretary Renato, declare her love for him to the witch here. The scene is accompanied with other predictions of the count's death and the good fortune of other men. This scene is very animated and goes through a roller-coaster of emotions from happiness to melancholie to high tension. The mezzo -soprano who plays the witch steals the scene most definitely here and has a great stage presence.

We pause for 20 minutes and resume with an act which is almost as long as the interval, but seeing the spectacularly constructed set of a ruined fort filled with rubble and almost realistic I can see why the need for an interval was required. This scene pulls together the rest of the opera. The lovers meet in secret and declare their love in a passionate and beautiful duet, the plot to kill the count thickens, and Renato discovers his wife's infidelity to the count and turns on him. This scene is executed with tension as well as some comic relief from the chorus with their lyrical laughing.

The final act opens with a very simple set of a study where the plot to kill the count is being planned. Renato and his conspirators discuss the plan for the murder which is over heard by Amelia, and she is forced to chose the name from the urn as to who will kill him. This scene out of the others comes across as the most bland, as it does not have the air of dramaticsim that the others have, but it builds up to a feeling of strong tension and release in an instant.

The act continues with a beautiful aria from the tenor in a hall of mirrors which reflects the whole opera house back at you. This was executed flawlessly by the tenor that even got a huge rise out of the audience when he finished.

The mirror tilts to reveal the lower galleries and gives you the illusion that you are in a manor house where the ball is taken place. The stage is filled with the chorus dressed in fine gowns and masks. It is a visual and aural feast on the viewer as the reflection to the lower gallery to dancers and musicians is distracting from the rest of the acts on the stage and you don't know where to look! The opera reaches its intense climax which is the death of the count. Verdi certainly has a very good way of expressing drama and tension in his music and he certainly manages this in this final scene. Although the count trying to rise as if he was OK made me think of Violetta's death scene in La Traviata a bit as well as Monty Python's "I'm getting better!" but I think this is a personal amusement to me.

Un ballo in Maschera was definitely a visually stunning and entertaining opera to watch. The singers were good, and some were exceptional. Definitely very entertaining and worth going to see if you can. However it was not the most memorable opera production I have seen but this may have to do with my personal musical preferences and having been spoilt by seeing Les Arts Florissants production of L'Orfeo the last time I went to the opera. Un Ballo in Maschera is not an opera where you will go away humming the aria to yourself, and for the opera virgin it is not the one I would recommend first. But saying that it is a good show and if you have a love for Verdi or Opera Comique style opera, or general dramaticism then do go along and check it out.

Dates:9,10,12,13,15,16,18,19 of October
Location: Teatro Real, Plaza Oriente
Transport:Metro line 5,line 2, R (Opera) or line 1, line 3(Sol)
Prices:Without discount (16€-151€) ages 26 or under at last minute tickets get 90% off!

Exhibition: Etruscan Princes - Between East and West

2008-10-05T23:27:00.012+02:00

Not much is known about the mysterious civilisation of the Etruscans. A civilisation which existed in Italy in pre-Roman times, contemporary with the flourishing Grecian civilisation, yet despite the close proximity to the other Mediterranean cultures the Etruscans were very distinct. The art and style of these people borrowed styles and influences from their neighbours, yet it is this very fusion which makes the art of the Etruscans very unique. An eclectic blend of Archaic Greek which can be seen in the faces of some of the statues or the geometric designs on some of the pots, as well as influences from the Phoenitians and even Persian. Most of the Etruscan artefacts were recovered are from tombs, however the unusual beliefs of the Etruscans regarding death meant that many objects reflecting daily life and comfort were buried along side their owner adding as a window to their daily lives.

In the CaixaForum in Madrid, just along the Paseo del Prado is an exquisite exhibition solely dedicated to the Etruscan civilisation. A rare collection of over 170 Etruscan artefacts from some of the best museums in the world (The Louvre, The archaeological museums in Florence, the Vatican and Rome), detailing different aspects of Etruscan life from life to death to religion to daily life. This exhibition I found to be pretty intense and a minimum of two hours was required to do the whole thing - and I am not one of those people who studies one object for half an hour at a time!

Incredible gold jewellery with such detail you become completely seduced by it! Tiny animals done in such detail and unique style it completely charms you! Fascinating sculptures which have an almost modern avant-garde feel to them as well as a purely archaic feel. The exhibition is very well laid out with a nice and interesting overview of the life in this mysterious civilisation.

A definite must see for anyone who has an interest in the Etruscan civilisation or a passion for Archaeology. It is worth to invest a few hours to get the most out of this exhibition but it is definitely something I felt like I came away like I learned a lot about this interesting and mysterious pre-Roman civilisation. Also from an artistic point of view it is also a very curious experience to see parallels between other cultures even some things which to our society would not look out of place.

Dates: 2/10/08-18/01/09
Location: CaixaForum, Paseo del Prado 36
Transport: Metro - line 1(Atocha), bus 10,14,27,34,45
Hours: Monday - Sunday (9am-8pm)
Price: Free

Welcome to Bohemian Madrid

2008-10-03T13:10:00.004+02:00

Welcome to the new blog Bohemian Madrid. A new project I am starting up with the aim to highlight activities of culture in Madrid as well as things of hedonism such as interesting bars, clubs, restaurants and unusual experiences to be had in this thriving city! I am hoping to turn this blog into a community where people can post articles and help keep this blog active instead of having one person to do all the work.

Bohemian Madrid sprung out of my previous blog on here (jensmadrid.blogspot.com) where the previous articles on here come from. I want to expand it into something more and maybe make this blog more like an online magazine type of thing for both the Madrid locals and tourists, and anyone who is interested.

To summarise the aim of the articles I would like to have on this site are:

-Reviews of exhibitions, concerts (classical, alternative, jazz etc), operas, theatre
-Highlight up and coming events in the month
-Reviews and anecdotes from interesting bars, unusual clubs
-Articles on alternative lifestyles in Madrid
-Interviews with people of interest
-Show casing art, poetry and literature of Madrid artists
-Articles on places of interest or anecdotes of Madrid experiences

Madrid is a wonderful city bursting with life and art! A European city which is often overlooked in shadow of more famous cities such as Paris, London, Barcelona etc but has just as much to offer.

If you are interested in participating in this project please email us at bohemianmadrid@gmail.com

Corsets and Absinthe

2008-10-03T08:50:00.002+02:00

It had been a while since I went been Goth clubbing. Despite the fact I think sometimes Goths should smile more often and be less serious about life, I love a lot of things about the Goth culture. I adore the music, the literature and the clothes. I am a proud owner of four stunning corsets. Unfortunately seeing as it is 2008 and not 1908 wearing a corset on a daily basis is not only bloody uncomfortable but will get you strange looks from people, especially in my job.

However one of my favourite things about Goth clubs is that I look perfectly normal wearing a corset there. Another thing I love is the music and also there are some very amusing and interesting characters you would only meet in the Goth club (like the guy alone at the bar wearing listening to his iPod and looking like a professional in misery).

A few months ago, I managed to convince some friends to go clubbing with me there. I met some really cool people who also were in the search for clubbing buddies in the dark side of the Madrid club scene. After months of saying we were going make plans to go again (but travel, life and work got in the way) we decided por fin to go again.

A main question on anyone's lips on a Madrid night out is "Which bar to start in?". Considering this was not going to be the average night out in Malasaña or in Sol we had to think of an appropriate bar to start feeling our inner Goth. There are some good places around and about but they were either to far or we didn't know them. Drinking red wine in my bedroom while listening to Sisters of Mercy or VNV nation seemed a bit cliché and less fun to me and it is what I always end up doing. However my friend introduced me to the wonderful, charmingly bohemian Café Manuela in the district of Malasaña and conveniently close to the club.

It is a fancy looking place, but it does not feel expensive nor pretentious. It is decorated as if it were a bar from 19th Century Montmartre. What was even better was that they served absinthe - three different types of absinthe. Sounds cliché too but I personally don't care - I love Absinthe!

However a lot of places when you ask for absinthe have no idea what to do with it and give you "chupitos" or if they know what to do with it, there still isn't very much of it. My friends sensibly elected the 50% one, I on the other hand went for the 70% because I usually drink that (a tiny bit watered down a LOT).

The bartender took out three large tumblers full of ice and filled them to the brim with absinthe, the colours turning milky as the absinthe interacted with the ice. I stood there mesmerised and in shock was the bar tender filled my glass with a dark green and very flammable drink (I know that form experience when I introduced my hand to some absinthe and a lighter). We were given a glass of water to accompany it too, and along with some sugar. We sat back down and started to drink. We three looked rather out of place all gothed up (well we suited the place more - I guess the others were looking out of place really) as we sipped on milky concoctions of different shades of green. The absinthe was very good, but very strong. After making my way down on half of the glass I already felt I would have trouble walking down the stairs to the bathroom. On finishing the tumbler I swore to myself not to drink any more alcohol that night or I would simply die!

We proceeded towards Gran Via to the Gothic club Dark Hole. This is the only goth club in Madrid I have been to, and I must say it's pretty good! I personally really liked the music which was a combination of 80's batcave and synthpop and then moving on towards EBM as the night reaches it's peak. Nearly everyone is dressed in black in there but there are still a couple of people in t-shirt and jeans. I had a fabulous time dancing most of the night on the stage with enough absinthe in my blood to erase my inhibitions and enough redbull to keep me dancing for hours like a monkey on speed. A club recommended for anyone in to 80s music, alternative dance music, into the goth culture or for a night out clubbing with a difference. I love this club and it's my autumn's resolution to go there more often following café Manuela and my tumbler of Absinthe - but I will elect the 50% one next time.

Ciné Dore - Bringing the old school cinematic magic back

2008-10-03T08:49:00.002+02:00

A month or two ago, a friend of mine invites me out to see an Ingmar Bergman film. I am always up for doing things providing time, money and energy permits so I thought why not. We met up at the metro station Anton Martin in "El Barrio de las Letras" meaning the Neighbourhood of literature which I think is such a charming name! It's just off Latina and Lavapies in the heart of old Madrid.

The cinema is a delight! It's an old restored cinema from the early part of the 20th century. With beautiful Deco style both inside and outside. Cine Doré specialises in showing films from the Spanish ministry of Culture's archive. They have special themes each month and show about 3 films per day. It is incredibly cheap to get into with tickets only costing 2.50€ per piece with student discounts available and also the option of getting an abono for 20€ for 10 shows!

The actual cinema hall itself is a delight! With balconies, gilded columns, murals and a wonderful stage with a heavy theatrical curtain, you think you are there to see a play rather than going to the movies.

You don't need to be a film lover to appreciate the charm of Cine Doré, they have a wonderful café there which is free to enter and is really stylish and delightful! It's one of the few bars in Madrid that is quiet and non-smoking and is ideal to go and work on your latest novel, read a book, study or just hang out for a nice conversation with friends. Whether your poison of choice is wine, beer, coffee or something heavier they have good quality and cheap drinks there. I highly recommend their coffee by the way!

For more details on the film program and opening hours check out the website (its not fancy and in Spanish but it has all the up to date information there) http://www.mcu.es/cine/MC/FE/CineDore/index.html

The Flavour of Madrid...

2008-10-03T08:48:00.002+02:00

I abhor supermarkets with a passion. I find them so clinical, depressing and not to mention expensive! The vegetables go off in a couple of days and are usually fairly tasteless. They maybe convenient, but I try to avoid the supermarket whenever I can.

A friend of mine introduced me a couple of months ago to the market hall - I large hall filled with different stalls selling everything from fresh vegetables to game. You could pretty much buy everything you want fresh here and at half the price, and do it in a way that is not only a sensory experience but interesting and with an atmosphere full of character and Madrileño charm.

I live on the south side of town, just off La Latina. But "El Mercado de Maravillas", which translates charmingly as "The Market of Marvels", sounds like something out of 1001 nights is the best in Madrid and the cheapest. I have been to other food markets but this one is my favourite. I even take the #3 bus all the way from Puerta Toledo to Cuatro Caminos every Saturday morning to shop at this wonderful place. The bus journey itself can be a pleasure as it passes through the centre of Madrid and you get a free tourist trail thrown in! Within half an hour I arrive at this Market of Marvels and am ready to do my shopping.

Although there are many bars to tempt you to a nice caña with a bit of Paella or preserved peppers before you engage in doing your weekly shop. For about 1.80€ you can get a nice little beer with a small pincho of Paella to give you that energy to shop. Now doesn't that sound like so much more fun than going to the supermarket?

My first port of call is the vegetable stall at the back of the market. This is owned by Latinos and caters to the Latin community of the area. There are an incredibly wide range of delicious and fresh vegetables at very low prices! I come away with kilos of delicious fruit and veg of all colours for under 15€!! You can get a kilo of artichokes for 1.50€, fresh ripe tomatoes, chilis, tender avocados that melt in the mouth, shiny red apples, juicy and sweet oranges to make your own juice with, basil that is so aromatic you can smell it a mile off.

You want some cheese? Next door there is a fine cheesery selling all sorts of different Iberian Cheeses, Manchego, Queso de Cabra (Goats cheese), cured old cheeses in olive oil, Queso Fresco, Blue Cheeses the lot.

There are stalls of Butchers selling you every part of the animal from beef to even game so fresh it has not been skinned or plucked yet. There are fish mongers with a choice of every type of marine crustacean and fish so shiny and fresh.

After the veggie stall I head to the counter for my delicious marinated olives and roasted peppers. I come away with kilos of legumes and beans, nuts, dried fruits and Valencian rice to make paella or risotto with. The olives are simply to die for! They have every type, size, colour in wonderful marinades. A simple and delicious luxury to have later on your long Saturday lunch with some crusty bread, artichokes, and a glass of good Rioja.

You can buy incredible loose tea with all sorts of tempting smells and flavours. Fresh baguettes and breads of different grains, shapes and sizes. Everything! This market is just a sensual delight of colours, smells, tastes and people. It is wonderful to pick out your food and to interact with a real human. Having them recognise you and chat with you after the many weeks of your weekly loyalty. Its truly marvelous and fun! Then to go home and cook wonderful and tasty meals for the week with such sublime ingredients.

Ditch the supermarket and TV dinners! Go to the market and buy and eat some real food!

A sunday morning on the Paseo del Prado

2008-10-03T08:47:00.003+02:00

It was a lovely Sunday morning this weekend and I decided I was in the mood for some art that morning. I had wanted to go to the Reina Sofia, but it was closed due to the day of "los reyes", so walked a bit further up the Paseo del Prado to the Thyssen-Bornemissza art gallery - one of the big three in the Madrid's artistic repertoire.

Out of the three galleries this is my personal favourite. It has a vast collection spanning a 700 years time frame up to and including 20th Century art. It also caters to the art lovers of Monet, Van Gogh, Gaugauin and all the major art movements of the 19th Century which the other two galleries do not have. If you have only time in Madrid to visit only one gallery, and are not too specific on what art you are interested in looking at then go to this one - it has the largest variety and you will not be disappointed in the collection. I didn't do the whole gallery this Sunday as I have been to this museum about 3-4 times, but you do need a whole day really or at least most of the afternoon to see the entire collection. I mainly stuck to the first and ground floor where the 19th-20th century art is located.
Here you will find your Fauvists, impressionists, romanticists, post-impressionists, expressionists, surrealists, cubists - you name it! Certainly proves to be interesting if you want to learn some art history as the art is catagorised by it's genre, and also provides a good cultural education as well as an aesthetic stimulation.

After my time in the gallery I was feeling oh so pretentious and wanted a coffee to follow suite. Not satisfied with the idea of going to the Starbucks next door, even with its chai soy lattes and its view of the Neptune fountain. I wanted grand, yet antique and flaky. Somewhere with character and history, a truly bohemian place to take my cup of black coffee. Where else better than the famous Café Gijón, ten minutes walking distance situated on the Paseo de Recoletos.

It's a deliciously wonderful old world place, built at the end of the 19th century and has been home and inspiration to the Spanish literati and artistic community in the 20th century; as well as being a historical iconic figure in Madrid café life. The place has a decaying grandeur atmosphere to it with its threadbare velvet seats and its chipped gold leaf framed mirrors. It smells musty, and has the ambience of an antique shop. The coffee was nice, but over priced but I supposed it is the price to pay when you are sitting in the seat where the Mata Hari or one of the Spanish literary giants may have sat herself so its excusable. The service is fast, but cold and impersonal - but fast service in Spain is a rarity so think of this as bonus. I guess in hindsight I would probably pay the same in Starbucks for a coffee or just shy of it so maybe not such a bad trade off then. Plus you cant get atmosphere in Starbucks no matter how nice a place it is situated in. I would go back there, and I would recommend going if you are a person who values atmosphere, ambience and history. It's a peaceful place away from the frantic bars of the more familiar Madrid and is a good locale to go to drink a coffee, discuss philosophy with your bohemian friends, write your journal or a novel or read one.

Dinner - somewhere cheap, beautiful with tasty food?

2008-10-03T08:47:00.001+02:00

No problem! With all the restaurants in Madrid you dont need to settle for a place which is cheap and nasty, or expensive or beautiful, or with great food with the view of a nice busy road. I was doing a course in Madrid (yes I know I live here, but I just finished an interuniversity course which took me all over Spain, one course being in Madrid) and on one night with a group of my friends from the course we naturally wanted some dinner.

We tried to get a table in the Museo del Jamon off Puerta del Sol but at 11pm they told us it was due to close soon. A dilema! However we are blessed by the multitude of fast food shops around the area, including the wonderful Moaz Falafels (a vegetarian fast food place with is tasty, cheap and relatively healthy) and if you want more traditional you can pick up a cured ham and cheese sandwich from the museo del jamon.

We all went to our fast food place of our choice (me - I took the tasty falafel salad!) and took our food to the plaza Oriente. This is right in the centre in between the Opera house and the Palacio Real. Now who can complain with a view like this:

We were infact seated on the benches at the foot of the statue pictured. It was lovely to sit there eating our cheap fast food of our choice with a spectacular view where a restaurant would have charged us 20% for the pleasure. It was awesome!

I highly recommend it to anyone who fancies a nice picnic in the city centre. Maybe with a date? I could imagine this being highly romantic on a lovely moonlit summers night.

Huertas and All that Jazz

2008-10-03T08:46:00.001+02:00

Its been a while since I have updated this journal, but it has been a while since I have been in Madrid for a long period of time. I have been running up and down the country doing courses and I have not had such an opportunity to get out and about. Last night after some great falafels me and a friend of mine went to Calle Huertas to take some great cocktails and its a place where I enjoy to go out sometimes.

Huertas is close to Sol and the bottom C/ Huertas comes up from the paseo del Prado through the old part of the city. It has a very bohemian feel to the area and I love it. Its full of bars and some tapas places with different themes, calibre and people. It buzzes as much during the day as at night. You can take a beer and a tapa in one of the little squares off the street in the hot Spanish sun or you can go out for a nice quiet night or party hard there.

A couple of my favourite haunts was introduced to me by a good friend I met in Germany who is a Madrileña herself. She introduced me to a wonderful bar called "La Trocha" near the bottom part of calle Huertas. It is a small, cosy bar which specialises in the glorious Brazilian cocktail "caipirinha". For those of you who do not know what this is let me introduce you to the way this place makes this delicious cocktail (and sold at the bargain price of 5€). They take fresh lemons and limes and crush them up in a class with a wooden pestle kind of thing, squeezing all the juice out of the fruit. They then add lots of ice, some sugar and top it off with a generous dose of Cachaça (a wonderful sweet Brazilian liqour). They are strong and give you a lot - so take care with the quantities! But it is so sweet and tangy to drink you can hardly taste the strong alcohol. The bar is nice with sofas around, they have a mix of Jazz and Brazilian music playing in the background so a good place to start before heading off to the Populart Café.

Populart is a jazz bar just up the street from La Trocha. It has live music every night from 11pm and is free to enter. The music is usually top notch and is mainly Jazz and Blues of all types. For more information check the website for the program and how to find it: http://www.populart.es/. There is always something going on with exception for christmas and new year more or less. It does get really crowded so if you want a seat or a place at the bar go early. This place practically spills out the door on busy nights. For any lover of live music must check this place out as they standard of the bands are superb.

Gallery Review - The Reina Sofia

2008-10-03T08:45:00.000+02:00

Before, I reviewed the Prado gallery, now going to head a little further down the Paseo del Prado to the modern art gallery - one of the big "three" art galleries in Madrid. This here is home to Picassos, Dalis, Miros etc. The Reina Sofia is close to the Atocha station, and is a little tucked in away from the main Paseo del Prado, and marks the beginning of the old neighbourhood of Embajadores, only a stones throw away from Lavapies.

The Reina Sofia is situated in an old square dotted around with many beer taverns, tapas bars and cafés. The Museum building itself is an interesting blend of modern and old, with its grand old fascade tastefully blended with the modern glass elevators. Personally I think this combination of modern and old works; it is my favourite style of architecture if it is done right.

When I went in the summer last year it was the anniversary of Picasso's Guernika returning to Spain after the death of Franco, so all the galleries had a Picasso special. The Reina Sofia is in fact the home to Guernika, and it was done by showing in the rooms where this masterpiece is showcased the sketches and ideas leading up to this painting. Maybe this is a more permanent feature, but to my shame I have not really been back to this gallery since the summer. It was very interesting to see how the painting developed, on the back of napkins from Parisian cafés, old sketch books. Seeing ideas used in their original state, changed, or not included at all. It was like seeing the jigsaw puzzle and the DNA for this truly powerful painting.

Now what of Guernica? It is pretty much one of Picasso's most famous masterpieces, an excellent piece of modern art with a powerful and horrific message. No words can describe the effect this painting has on you when you stand in front of it. It is huge, it takes up a whole wall. The pain and the horror feels so real when you see it right in your face brush stroke for brush stroke. I have seen this picture many times in books, documentaries, on the internet but nothing had prepared me to see it live. Art that inspires emotions, the senses and not just a picture that gives you pleasure to look at it goes beyond art. It is a powerful message expressed through an alternative medium, I guess the ideal of what modern art tries to express often (and usually fails). It is not a pretty picture, I felt very uncomfortable looking at it, but sometimes art is like that. I have watched films before which made me feel like shit afterwards, yet there was no denying it was a good film. Its kind of that feeling. Worth seeing if you are in Madrid, just visit the gallery to see this painting.

Other works in the Reina Sofia includes Dali, Miro and other modern artists. I wont lie when I say I am not the biggest modern art fan. I love one or two artists and I consider Picasso and Dali some of my favourite artists. When modern art is good it is superb and the best form of art, however when its bad, it is terrible, abysmal. One of my reasons I am in no hurry to visit modern art museums, unless they have trippy art installations which are just fun or Dalis or Picassos. Now the Reina Sofia does not dissapoint. It has some fantastic Dalis too, which I was very happy to find.

So if you are a modern art lover - you will love the Reina Sofia; if you love art but not so keen on modern all the time it is still worth the time to visit.

El Rastro - your local buzzing street market

2008-10-03T08:43:00.000+02:00

Apologies for the tardiness of this next post to those who do follow this journal. I have been preoccupied with work and Spanish bureaucracy to write much here. I have also been quite ill too. Mother is here this week, so will also not be updating this frequently.

However a week or so ago I met up with some friends for breakfast near my house, their house and El Rastro! So after a heavy brunch of two mixto con huevos (Spanish toasted sandwich with ham, cheese and egg - yum yum) and lots of cofffee we headed off to the Rastro. El Rastro is a famous Madrid street market in the district of La Latina and held every Sunday in the morning. It dates back some time, to medieval times I believe when the leather tanners would sell their goods, its all there in my Madrid guidebook all the way on the other side of my newly cleaned bedroom, however due to laziness I will not reach over and check. So I cannot guarantee my accuracy. Anyways it has been running a long time, and is now more famed as an antique market and a market where anything goes.

Want a new hippy table cloth? A tacky woodcraft thing which you have no idea what it does? Posters? Painting? Creepy Antiques that only your dead great grandmother would love? You can get it here. However I like to sometimes come for the atmosphere. I am one of these masochistic people who loves to get crushed in a crowd of sweaty strangers on a hot summers day (probably why I like carnivals, if you see my German entry on Cologne). If you dont like crowded places - avoid the Rastro.

Its a vibrant place of life with interesting sites and lots of crap you would never buy as well as lots of crap you buy for friends for presents and even for home. Sometimes you might even find something that is useful. It has some old bohemian romance to it, the old time street market. I think its one of the reasons I love it. Anyway if you are looking for some souvenirs in Madrid come here, or want some random hippy stuff or some nasty smelly antiques (I dont hate antiques, I like them, but the stuff here is flakey as hell!). Or if you like me and want a sensory overload of colours, sounds and people then I highly recommend it.

Only - look after your wallet. Thieves thrive in the Rastro! Dont feed the thieves thank you!

Not your normal Sunday - care for a little Hedonism?

2008-10-03T08:42:00.001+02:00

While most people enjoy a nice relaxing day in front of the telly on a sunday, I opted to do something a little different to my usual Sunday afternoons. My friend had invited me to go clubbing at the "Space of Sound" - an all day nightclub just above the station Charmartìn. I had been meaning to check it out, and I have never been clubbing during the day before so thought great could be loads of fun.

It was one of the most surreal, interesting and fantastic experiences I have ever had from clubbing. It felt weird, if not slightly wrong walking into a club at 2pm on a Sunny Sunday afternoon but as soon as I walked inside I was transported into another world! A world of an electronic dream and a ravers paradise! To not talk about the clubs and bars in Madrid would not give the correct impression of Madrid, and for me personally its nightlife (or daylife in this case) is a big thing in my life here. Sometimes a good dancing marathon to an awesome beat is as good as destressing as a day of relaxation in front of the sun for me.

Space is probably the most jaw dropping club I have been too. I have not been clubbing like have done in Madrid before, but this place took my breathe away. I forgot the time, the space where I was then. Time did not exist inside here. You are hit with the amazing electronic sound as you come in through the door (while I am a goth/rocker by heart, I am a sucker for pretty much all electronic music!), music with so much depth and intensity that you do not only hear it but feel it through your body, and all of this without being deafened. There are amazing laser shows, dancers, fiber optic lit coffee tables next to really comfy sofas, space age looking bars and most importantly of all - lots of people just having a great time!

The thing I liked about this club is people came there to be free, no one cared what you looked like or how you danced. You didn´t get sweaty, nasty guys humping your leg, nor bitchy girls glaring at you because you are not trendy enough. I went in t-shirt, jeans, no make up, messy hair and no one treated me any different. It was a really liberating experience to feel like I was not being treated as a piece of meat and I could truly be myself. The atmosphere was euphoric and you did not want to stop dancing until 8pm. Sometimes I just stood back and admired the amazing laser shows and sat on the comfy sofas with my eyes closed and let the music wash over me. It was rather surreal to pass the front door when you would go to the toilet to see the sunny outdoors, which to me seemed like the dimensional gateway to reality. Certainly and odd experience but much worth it. Absolutely pure, liberating hedonism. I loved it, and would certainly go again! The best thing about it being in the afternoons is by the next day you are refreshed and ready to work again. I feel like I have just been on holiday.

Gallery Review - Museo del Prado

2008-10-03T08:39:00.000+02:00

Madrid is definitely a city to do if you are into art; as it is the home to three amazing galleries: The Prado, The Thyssen-Bornemisza and The Reina Sofia. All three galleries are very different to each other; with the Prado hosting art from the renaissance times up until the early 19th century, the Thyssen is good if you want impressionists and art from the 19th century (but the collection is very varied and contains old and modern art too), and the Reina Sofia is entirely modern art. When people ask me which is the best one to visit its hard to say - it entirely depends on your taste in Art. All three are worth a visit if you can, and are conveniently located within five minutes walking distance of each other.

Out of all three of the museums though, the Prado un-doubtably has the most impressive building. With its neoclassical facade and statues looking out onto a glamorous tree lined boulevard, the Prado is an impressive sight even to pass in your car. Inside it is filled with some wonderful artistic treasures too. The ground floor is mainly Renaissance art - especially Italian. Here you will find Raphael and Botticelli. It also houses Renaissance German and Dutch paintings too so if you are in search for some Durer or Bosch this is the place to look.

Botticelli - The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti

Bosch - Garden of Delights

My personal favourite is the classical sculpture rooms. Filled with treasures of Grecian and Roman art from all over the mediterranean. This is the reason I have been to the Prado a grand number of five times! I have a definite weak spot for Greco-Roman statues so this place was like artistic heaven for me. Most of the statues are in such good condition as well with beautiful detail. Absolutely devine!

On the upper floors you come to later art consisting of Caravaggio, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt etc - you get the idea. As well as a lot of Spanish art like Velázquez and Goya.

Sometimes they also have temporary exhibitions in the central part of the ground and first floors. I was very lucky last summer to catch the Picasso Exhibition there which focused on his reinterpretations of famous paintings including the one featured on the right (originally by Velázquez - Las Meninas).