If the violin or the piano were nominated for the 2026 Oscars, they’d probably be Hamnet or One Battle After Another: they triumph wherever they go. Classical instruments never go out of style, but they do evolve to blend in with the times. We saw this in the legendary techno version of that Los Chicos del Coro song, the Berghain remix during Rosalía’s performance at the Brits, and now with the arrival of Candlelight Beats in Madrid.
In this latest case, the centrally located Teatro Magno is the venue chosen to experience some of the most iconic (and not-so-iconic) pieces of classical music. An immersive live concert where the entire repertoire sounds familiar, but with more punch. The good kind.
Candlelight Beats Madrid: program and what it is
You’ve probably already heard about Candlelight concerts (both you and your Instagram algorithm): tributes to classical and contemporary artists presented in a classical format by candlelight. Well, Candlelight Beats is their techno version, featuring a pianist, an electric violinist, and a live DJ.
Versions of classical works in a completely new context created by Candlelight’s musical curators alongside an international team of world-class composers and producers. A repertoire that includes some of the best-known works by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Chopin, and Debussy, among many others:
- J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 (Prelude) vs Noga Kedem
- Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune vs Be. Lanuit
- Richard Strauss: Thus Spoke Zarathustra vs. Alex Clouz
- L. van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 / Moonlight Sonata vs Moon Bounce
- Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 vs Ed is Dead
- P. I. Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Finale) vs Ed is Dead
- W.A. Mozart: A Little Night Serenade vs. Moon Bounce
Teatro Magno, from a Basque pelota court to a nightclub
If you think you’ve gone through many phases in your life, perhaps there have been fewer than those experienced by Madrid’s Teatro Magno. Located on Calle de Cedaceros, just a few minutes’ walk from the Círculo de Bellas Artes, the building dates back to the early 20th century. And not as a theater, but as a Basque pelota fronton, specifically for women’s pelota matches.
From there it became a theater, and after many names and a stint as a movie theater, today’s Teatro Magno is one of Madrid’s historic venues where you can enjoy everything from shows to concerts of all kinds. A history we can still see in its architecture, as its renovations have respected its original Italian-style theater structure.
Now, going out to party in Madrid sounds like Mozart and Vivaldi with electric violin and a DJ set, thanks to Candlelight Beats. It will be just for one day at the Teatro Magno ( wheelchair accessible), which will be lit by thousands of candles for the occasion in two different sessions: one at 7:30 p.m. and another at 9:30 p.m. Seats are limited, so it’s advisable to book in advance.