El Encanto de la Zarzuela
Experience the magic of the Zarzuela at a dinner with a show
If there is one word that can describe the feeling of what happens every Saturday night at El Café de la Ópera (c/ Arrieta, 6) it is, without a doubt: Magic! Tenors, sopranos and mezzo-sopranos, accompanied by piano, perform the most famous melodies of opera and zarzuela just a few metres away from the diners, while they explain their origin and the odad curiosity about their creation or composition.
An evening marked by elegance that every Saturday at 8:30 p.m. dresses up in its best clothes to enjoy Una Cena Cantada (A Sung Dinner). And that renews its gastronomic proposal every season, inspired by the most famous operas and zarzuelas. In its new edition, its menu has been inspired by the four-act opera Carmen, by Bizet. A work that shocked and scandalised its first audiences in 1875. So much so that it almost had to be withdrawn. But today it is considered one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon, with arias as well known as the ‘Habanera’ or ‘Canción del toreador’.
A unique dinner show that you can enjoy just a few metres from the Teatro Real de la Ópera and the Palacio Real, right in the centre of the city. With its unique acoustics, it has its own lyrical company, making it the perfect place for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special moment.
“El Encanto de la Zarzuela” at El Café de la Ópera
Today Zarzuela is enjoying a moment of splendour, with greater visibility in the new season of the Teatro Real and the Teatro de la Zarzuela. So much so that it has recently been declared a Representative Manifestation of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Council of Ministers. And now El Café de la Ópera (c/ Arrieta, 6) on Friday evenings will offer El Encanto de la Zarzuela, a dinner show where the company will perform the most representative romanzas and duets.
‘After 27 seasons with ‘Una Cena Cantada’, we want to give prominence to a genre for which we have always felt a special devotion’. Manuel Ganchegui, its artistic director, tells us. He, who was first a singer and then director of La Antología de la Zarzuela by the great maestro José Tamayo, has seen audiences thrilled on the great stages of half the world.
An emotion that is transferred to Friday nights at El Café de la Ópera with El Encanto de la Zarzuela, where a tasting menu will be offered in which each dish will be associated with a prelude. It starts with the prelude to the Revoltosa accompanied by Croquetas de jamón ibérico (Iberian ham croquettes) on straw potatoes. With the prelude to the Verbena de La Paloma comes the Crema ligera de consomé de cocido with crispy chickpeas. The intermission of La Leyenda del Beso (The Legend of the Kiss) will give way to baked cod on homemade tomato sauce. To finish, nothing could be more exciting than the prelude.
El Encanto de la Zarzuela: 65 €, person (VAT INCLUDED. NO DRINKS)
Every Friday at 20:30 h (doors open at 20:15 h)
*Reservations essential.
Booking conditions for El Encanto de la Zarzuela
At El Café de la Ópera it is essential to explain to our customers how the booking process for “El Encanto de la Zarzuela” works. As it is a dinner with a show, the team that makes it possible needs to plan in advance the arrangement of tables, space for the singers and the gastronomic preparation. Therefore, at the time of booking, your reservation must be guaranteed with a credit or debit card.
If you need to cancel or modify your reservation without any charge, you can do so 24 hours before the date of your reservation. Our reservations department will contact you the day before the show to reconfirm your booking and proceed with the payment.
In case of no-show or cancellation less than 24 hours before the date of your booking, no refund of the amount previously paid will be possible.
We look forward to seeing you and HAPPY MUSICAL EVENING!