Another summer is here, and once again Madrid is ready to celebrate one of the events that best express its idiosyncrasy and its particular way of understanding and enjoying culture: the Veranos de la Villa. The tradition began in 1985, when a dearly beloved mayor was at the helm of City Hall: Enrique Tierno Galván. In that prodigious decade, it was Tierno Galván who approved the first edition of a festival which has now become an inextricable part of the cultural life and heritage of Madrid.
As heirs of the rich history and brilliant track record consolidated over these past years, in 2010 we will strive harder than ever to restore the spirit that brought this festival to life. And what better way to do this than to continue being a point of convergence and popular forum, bringing together a wide variety of artists from every field and a Madrid eager for concerts and unforgettable summer evenings.
Once again, we will delve into the intense fusion of genres and performances that the festival always offers, though there are a few surprises in store. This Summer, Make It to Madrid is the motto under which the festival will offer more than 151 stage projects and 1,156 performances to make the summer heat more bearable.
For the second year running, rock, pop, jazz, flamenco, folk, reggae, R&B, soul, raï and gospel music will ring out from the Escenario Puerta del Ángel, while another of the festival’s most appealing open-air venues, the Sabatini Gardens, will fill the night of Madrid with the soaring melodies of zarzuela, flamenco and fado.
And we mustn’t forget our annual appointment with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and the great maestro Daniel Barenboim. Once again, the Plaza Mayor will host a concert where we can enjoy music that “sounds” a call for solidarity and tolerance among the peoples of the Earth.
The Summers on the Street will also return, flooding the corners where this city’s true soul resides with art. The series will offer an encounter with classical music in the imposing Plaza de Oriente and with haunting world music at the ever-evocative Temple of Debod. And this year, Summers on the Street will feature an exciting novelty: the Fringe Space, where young bands will be given a chance to showcase their talent in the auditorium of Parque Enrique Tierno Galván.
Also for the second consecutive year, our program will include events at many of the city’s theaters. Thanks to the enthusiastic involvement of the majority of private theaters, Madrid will be one of the European cities with the most cultural activity this summer. The program also includes movie sessions at La Bombilla, with the fascinating Open Air project, and Titirilandia (Puppetland), a festival dedicated to our boldest and most enthusiastic audience – children – which will offer activities at the Puppet Theater in El Retiro and at La Casa Encendida.
This will undoubtedly be one of the most singular “Veranos” to date, an encounter that no one should miss out on. I trust that the enquiring minds of Madrid will rise to the call of “their festival” once more, and that, working together, we can revive the spirit in which this unique event was forged: This Summer, Make It to Madrid.
As always you will find the best luxury and boutique accomodation in our website: www.cocosuites.com
