El castillo ausente: doble programa de Béla Bartók en el Teatro Real

By Juan José Freijo, 05 November 2025

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“lo mejor de la noche estuvo sin duda en el foso”

Reviewed at Teatro Real: Sala Principal, Madrid on 4 November 2025

Bartók, The Miraculous Mandarin, Op.19, Sz 73

Bartók, Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Christof Loy, Director

Márton Ágh, Set Designer

Barbara Drosihn, Costume Designer

Thomas Kleinstück, Lighting Designer

Teatro Real

Gustavo Gimeno, Conductor

Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real

Coro Titular del Teatro Real

Evelyn Herlitzius, Judith

Christof Fischesser, Bluebeard

Nicolas Franciscus, Prologue of the Bard, Actor

Gorka Culebras, Dancer

Carla Pérez Mora, Dancer

Nicky Van Cleef, Dancer

Jarosław Kruczek, Dancer

Joni Österlund, Dancer

Mário Branco, Actor

Deborah Warner attains her theatrical dream at the Teatro Real

Juan José Freijo, 12th March

Warner once again displays her unquestionable talent onstage and her affinity with Benjamin Britten, although, on this occasion, the musical aspect are not equally satisfactory.

***11

Illuminating history-makers: Nixon in China lands in Madrid

David Karlin, 17th April

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

****1

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 19th April

The new production of Peter Grimes stands out as the strongest item in Teatro Real's season, with magnificent staging by Deborah Warner and superb musical direction by Ivor Bolton, with outstanding vocal and dramatic performances.

*****

Reality as a staging concept: La traviata at Teatro Real, Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 22nd July

In this historic reopening, Lisette Oropesa offers a magnificent performance, dramatically overwhelming and vocally very unique.

****1

La Veronal heads Into the Little Hill in Madrid

John Marten Barnard, 15th February

The Teatros del Canal host the Benjamin–Crimp partnership’s thrillingly dark, lyric retelling of Robert Browning’s famous 1842 poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin by La Veronal dance company.

*****

A disappointing new Falstaff from Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real

Fernando Remiro, 25th April

Comedy fails to spark in Laurent Pelly's new production of Falstaff at the Teatro Real.

**111

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Juan José Freijo

Juan José Freijo nació en Madrid en 1970. Desde siempre apasionado por el estudio de la música, sus intereses orbitan principalmente alrededor de la ópera y el género vocal. Inició su formación y carrera profesional en el campo de las ciencias, donde completó un doctorado en física aplicada. Más adelante, amplió su formación en diferentes áreas de humanidades, incluyendo estudios en historia del arte y en la actualidad un postgrado en filosofía teórica y práctica. Juan José Freijo sigue de cerca las temporadas de las principales capitales europeas y durante los últimos años ha estado a cargo de la sección de crítica musical de ocioxocio.com.