Video-on-Demand: El barberillo de Lavapiés

Madrid in turmoil. In the lively working-class neighborhood of Lavapiés during the 18th century reign of Charles III, meet Lamparilla, a quick-witted barber, factotum, dentist and street singer. Lamparilla has no interest in politics but he is in love and becomes embroiled in an intrigue that reaches all the way to the Spanish royal family. Will his charm, network and cunning disguises help him outsmart the scheming aristocrats and political conspirators?

El barberillo de Lavapiés from 1874 is a zarzuela masterpiece by Francisco Barbieri. This cheerful game of cat and mouse with the authorities is fueled by irresistible Spanish dance rhythms and music reminiscent of Rossini and Verdi. In this classic 19th-century zarzuela, still relatively unknown outside Spain, social and political tensions are vented through folklore and humour. For his acclaimed new production for Theater Basel, Christof Loy devotes himself to the best-known work of this genre and brings it to the stage with a Spanish cast and in the original language. The zarzuela celebrates the cleverness of common people who triumph over powerful elites through wit rather than force, with lashings of charm, irresistible dance numbers and gentle social commentary.

Recorded on 07.11.2025