El barberollo de Lavapiés

El barberillo de Lavapiés is one of the most joyful and iconic works in the Spanish lyrical repertoire. With music by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri and a libretto by Luis Mariano de Larra, it has endured over time as a symbol of the castizo spirit and of Madrid’s musical theatre. It stands as a pinnacle of our musical history—an embodiment of madrileñismo and Hispanic lyric theatre. In this new production, stage director Alfredo Sanzol amplifies the comic and adventurous tone of the piece, while never losing sight of its constant pursuit of beauty. For Sanzol, comedy is a liberating tool that allows life’s conflicts to be approached with both depth and lightness. Thus, the story of Lamparilla and Paloma—two beloved and down-to-earth characters—intertwines with the romantic entanglements of the young Marchioness Estrella and Don Luis, all set against a political backdrop of transition between the governments of Grimaldi and Floridablanca. The musical direction is led by José Miguel Pérez-Sierra, who emphasizes the richness of this score as one of the high points of the zarzuela genre. The collaboration between Barbieri and Larra results in a work that exudes Madrid in every detail: a Madrid that is 18th-century in its plot, 19th-century in its music, yet with a timeless freshness that remains relevant today.