In 1926, its headquarters on Alcalá Street were inaugurated: 100 years later, Madrid’s Círculo de Bellas Artes is hosting a concert dedicated to “The Lord of the Rings.”

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Marina Carrasco

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  November 12, 2026

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It’s been nearly 300 years since a fire destroyed the Alcázar of Madrid, 89 since the General Staff bunker served as the Republican Army’s headquarters in the capital… lately, Madrid has been all about anniversaries. And now another one joins the list, one that’s especially meaningful for fans of *The Lord of the Rings*: it’s been 25 years since the trilogy premiered.

An occasion that Madrid will celebrate in style with a concert at the Círculo de Bellas Artes, which is also marking the 100th anniversary this year of the opening of its current headquarters on Calle Alcalá. Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings will be an evening of live music where the stage will be covered with thousands of candles.

Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings in Madrid

A Journey from the Shire to the Grey Havens

In “Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings,” the music from Peter Jackson’s three films is performed live by a string quartet by candlelight. The concert lasts about an hour and is presented by Fever and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences to celebrate the 25th anniversary.

The set list follows the saga’s journey from start to finish. Literally. It begins with the story of the Ring in Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All and continues on to the Shire with “Concerning Hobbits.” From there, it moves on to Amon Hen, descends into the depths of Moria with Foundations of Stone (Gandalf versus the Balrog), and emerges onto the plains of Rohan before reaching Minas Tirith.

This will be followed by The Ride of the Rohirrim and The Return of the King, before bidding farewell to Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf from Middle-earth with “The Grey Havens.”

There are 13 pieces in total from Howard Shore’s original score, arranged for performance by a string quartet. In fact, Shore himself approved the repertoire and the sheet music.

The Círculo de Bellas Artes: a gem on Calle de Alcalá

A cultural landmark if ever there was one, Madrid’s Círculo de Bellas Artes will always hold a special place in the capital. And not only because of its extensive program but also because of its history. The society was founded in April 1880, but since 1926 it has occupied the famous building at 42 Calle de Alcalá, designed by architect Antonio Palacios. Its Fernando de Rojas Hall is one of the best known, but it also features four exhibition halls: Picasso, Minerva, Goya, and Juana Mordó.