Teatro Real — Attraction in Madrid

We just saw Rigoletto. Let’s keep it real.

The musical production the singing, the orchestral music was great. Really enjoyed. The rest was distracting from the beautiful singing at best, and quite frankly just vulgar and artistically lazy.

There were moments the set scenery impressed aesthetically and was additive, then IKEA plastic furniture gets thrown in. Maybe it’s more cost effective this way to have bare bone production like this?

Rigoletto begins dressed up as a drag queen in corset. It does not make a statement like cross dressing Sam Smith / Little Nas X / Billy Porter or body positive Lizzo, just a rip off of popular culture.

The dancing and acting, the supporting cast were subjected to unnecessary nudity, crass mimicry and gross exaggeration of sexual acts, constantly. I am surprised no one passed out from that much convulsion. Over the top uncalled for, and I fail to see the artistic value here. I had to shut my eyes to concentrate on the music sometimes. People did applaud for them at the end but I thought as support for the humiliation they had to endure.

Shock value for its own sake does not equate art, it detracts from it. Comedians can draw easy cackles telling crass jokes but it takes skills and intellect to make audience laugh over mundane innocent subjects. Sheer laziness on the artistic director’s part.

It is presumptuous to think that audience would slurp this up as art? Beware, just like people catch on to the fact that the emperor wears no clothes, that Damien Hirst is questionable getting his minions to pickle a shark in formaldehyde, you will be found out too.

It’s not my first time seeing Rigoletto. Yes people don’t necessarily want to see the same classical production each time. But I miss the productions where you can appreciate the elaborate efforts, the labour, the thoughts that went into the stage production as well as the dancing and acting.

People make an effort to go to the opera, dress nice and enjoy the experience. Maybe the theatre wants to make opera approachable but let’s not be hypocrites here. Our tickets cost 300 euros each so the pricing can be alienating for many. Please can you respect the audience and deliver a special experience? Otherwise can just watch videos on YouTube or a cheap strip club.

Recent years the opera productions here at the Royal Theatre have left me wanting. Turandot last year also seemed anachronistic, modern production yet filled with kitschy stereotypes of Asians and costume references and designs that confuse one culture for another. Was i lt ignorance or was it laziness, but I digress.

Yes art can and should evolve and adapt. And I think the production can be better without having to stoop to this cheap level.

Please you can be better. Show craft, share your passion for the arts in a respectful way, differentiate in a positive manner, and inspire...

My dear friend who is on a wheel chair due to a progressive disability was very much looking forward to see the Rigoletto but was told to go home because their accessibility platform was broken.

This is rude, archaic, and inexcusable.

Shame on Teatro Real.

From: Rebeca Perez Sanchez-Montanes So my mom and I were ready to enjoy a great night at the opera in the Teatro Real in Madrid, one of the two main opera houses in Spain, kind of like the Metropolitan Opera in NY city, except it isn't because Spain is different. As many of you know, I have reduced mobility and use a wheelchair. Well, guess what happened when we got to the theater? As naturally and as indifferently as a store clerk would tell you that there are out of bananas, we were told that we were not going to enjoy any opera because the platform used for accessibility was not working. That's it, no trying to find solutions, no trying to apologize for not having fixed something that is crucial for accessibility, not even thinking that this was a problem. You would think that they would check the device ahead of the event. Not at the Teatro Real. We were told quite simply that I couldn't go in and the best and only thing I could do was to turn around. I was shocked, heartbroken, in disbelief. And if you're still trying to justify this by believing that this was one of those very unlucky things, I will tell you that as of today the platform is still not working. As many of you know, I hardly ever do things anymore outside of the house due to my disability. We had saved our money for this trip and for a night at the opera. It was not to be. Many Spanish institutions and companies treat their customers like this and they get away with it because there are really no outlets to complain in order to change things for the better. If you can believe it, the customer service/complaints department does not have a phone number, or so they told me. The feeling of powerlessness and humiliation is hard to describe. As of right now I will count myself lucky if I get my money back. Please pass this message around to as many people as you can so that we can bring shame to this disgraceful this...

We attended the theater to watch L'Orfeo. That is a beautiful work with a great message of loss, love, and living. The venue is beautiful and regal. The seating area has a grand chandelier hovering over the audience. The theater seats were comfortable and enough for a big guy like myself. The balconies are gilded and beautifully detailed. The royal box balcony is front and center. It's majestic quality makes for a perfectly romantic and exquisite night out. You can reserve a table to sit during intermission in a gorgeous room with spectacular paintings of the royal family. The venue is accessible to those with wheelchair use. The taxi hub is conveniently located behind the theater. I purchased the tickets online and felt the process was easy and convenient. The problem is here: I purchased the tickets based on its recommendation of best seats at the time. When we took our seats, we noticed jumbo screens placed around the theater for patrons to watch. Unfortunately, even though we purchased front row balcony seats to the left of the stage, we could not see the theater actors. We relied on the screens to see what was going on below us, which was a huge disappointment. If we wanted to view the stage actors, we had to lean over the balcony. The people behind us had to stand to catch a glimpse over us. That was the case all around the theater. Unless you purchase seats that are directly facing the theater stage, straight on, and within the middle third, you will not have a visible position. The jumbo screens show video but they do not capture the essence or the detail that the human eye can capture from the seats. I spent 80% of the time reclined in my seat, watching the screens and wishing the theater had disclosed the limited visibility when tickets were being purchased. I would recommend this venue, but be conscious of the limited visibility issue when purchasing tickets. It's better to buy the less expensive tickets up high that are centrally located than the closer, side...