La verbena de la Paloma

Teatro de la Zarzuela will present a new production of the popular zarzuela, La verbena de la Paloma, on 23, 24, 25, 25, 27 and 30 September and 1, 2, 3 and 4 October 2026. It is a lyric sainete in one act with music by Tomás Bretón, libretto by Ricardo de la Vega and introductory text by Álvaro Tato.

Accompanied by the Community of Madrid Orchestra and the Teatro de La Zarzuela Resident Choir, performers of the likes of the Spanish tenor, musician and actor, Antonio Comas, the opera singer, Borja Quiza, the soprano, Carmen Romeu and the Spanish lyric zarzuela singer, with soprano tessitura, Milagros Martín, will appear on stage.

The action takes place in some of the most popular neighbourhoods of Madrid in 1894, when it was premièred, and during the festival of the Virgen de La Paloma. However, Julián is not in the mood for any celebration, as he suspects that Susana, his girlfriend, does not want to go to the festival with him because she is going out with a lover. Susana, fed up with her partner's constant jealousy, decides to accept Don Hilarión's proposals. This fact will unleash a number of tangles between the main characters.

Bretón's musical creation features great musical numbers such as the classic Dónde vas con mantón de Manila? or Una morena y una rubia. The show was premièred to great acclaim in Madrid on 17 February 1894, and was based on a real event, as a young printer's clerk caused a great scandal at a popular verbena when he found out that his girlfriend was accompanied by an old apothecary.

Artistic File:

• Musical Conductor - Carlos Aragón
• Stage Director and Choreographer - Nuria Castejón
• Stage Design - Nicolás Boni
• Costumes - Gabriela Salaverri
• Lighting - Albert Faura
• Cast - Don Hilarión TONI COMAS; Don Sebastián GERARDO LÓPEZ (23, 25, 27 September, 1 and  3 October) / JORGE RODRÍGUEZ NORTON (24, 26, 30 September, 2 and 4 October); Julián BORJA QUIZA (23, 25, 27 September, 1, and 3 October) / CÉSAR SAN MARTÍN (24, 26, 30 September, 2 and 4 October); Señá Rita MILAGROS MARTÍN; Susana CARMEN ROMEU (23, 25, 27 September, 1 and  3 October) / MARÍA REY-JOLY (24, 26, 30 September, 2 and 4 October); Casta ANA SAN MARTÍN; Tía Antonia GURUTZE BEITIA; Cantaora SARA SALADO; Tabernero RAFA CASTEJÓN

Performers:

• Community of Madrid Orchestra. Teatro de La Zarzuela Resident Orchestra
• Teatro de La Zarzuela Choir. Conductor: Antonio Fauró