We're lucky enough to have several active theatres in Málaga. Just a stone's throw from Plaza Merced and a gentle stroll from some of the best tapas in town is Teatro Cervantes.
Destroyed by fire in the mid 19th century, it was restored and reopened in 1870 reflecting a Málaga at the height of its commercial wealth and cultural sophistication. Years of decline followed this peak, until it was rescued again by the city and re-opened in 1987. I think it's stayed relevant because of an eclectic programme that takes in opera, classical, rock and pop music, theatre, dance and great interactive stuff for kids.
Fred and I were lured in for the first time last week, splashing out €15 a ticket on two concerts during the IX Festival de Música Antigua de Málaga.
The first concert was performed by Accademia del Piacere Arcángel. Arcángel himself is a suitably moody-looking flamenco singer with a national reputation. With viola da gamba player Fahmi Alqhai, two superb guitarists and percussionist, he whispered, hissed and howled his way through songs from the Accademia's recent album, Las Idas y Las Vueltas, tracing the roots of flamenco in colonial Baroque music. It was so....untamed. Thrilling! At the end we all leapt to our feet and applauded until they came back with an even more electrifying encore. Get a flavour of their sound on this YouTube video.
A few days later , the Malaga Philharmonic played Telemann, and Handel's music for the Royal Fireworks. It was dull. Fred didn't hang around for the second half ("I'm in Telemann hell"). He walked back to PLaza Merced for a nightcap, to find Sexteto de Jazz Iñanki Askunze playing a long and wonderful set. The sort of delightful surprise that can happen in music-loving Málaga.
Comments