In a city with more terraces than shadows, the Olivar de Castillejo is a curious anomaly. One hundred and twenty centenary olive trees, rosemary, almond trees and a wooden platform are enough to set up one of the best cultural plans of the summer in Madrid: the cycle ‘Noches del Olivar’, which this year returned on June 25 to stay until August 30.
Organized by the Olivar de Castillejo Foundation, this open-air classical music festival is held in Chamartín (Calle Menéndez Pidal 3Bis), in a garden so quiet that it seems to be three autonomous communities away from the Bernabéu.
How to go to the Olivar del Castillejo concerts
Concerts are from Wednesday to Saturday at 20:00 (doors open at 19:15). There are no reservations, no QR or apps, you enter with a donation of 20€ in cash and seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis. The ticket? Includes a drink at sunset in the ambigú, a discreet bar in the greenery.
What concerts are there this year?
This year more than 40 different ensembles will be performing, including the Sundara Ensemble, the Manuel de Falla Quartet, the Alter Ego Trio, the Sturm und Bass duo and the Rhea Quartet. There is also room for instrumentalists who sound increasingly strong in the circuit: the pianists Enrique Lapaz, Laura Granero, Eduardo Frías, or the violin and piano duo formed by Alma Olite and Jorge Nava.
Classical saxophone in the open air? Marimba with piano? Also. Key and viola da gamba among rockrose and broom? Of course. This year’s lineup explores a variety of formats ranging from solo recital to specialized ensemble, without forgetting less orthodox proposals, such as Black & White Keys (marimba + piano) or the duo of Simon Mogul and Sebastian Chames, who bring jazz to the olive grove.
The series closes on August 30 with a recital by soprano Tatiana Melnichenko, baritone Vladimir Polishchuk and pianist Cristina Sanz, a regular at the festival. You can consult the complete program at this link.