Almost 10 times the height of the Pirulí: what goes into setting up the Candlelight concerts in Madrid
Five thousand? Fifteen thousand? Thirty thousand? Here we’ll tell you how many candles are used at the Candlelight concerts in Madrid and the entire process before the experience begins.
Candlelight Concert at the Madrid College of Physicians
Maybe you’ve been there yourself, or a friend has, or you’ve just seen them on Instagram, but you’ve most likely heard of the Candlelight concerts in Madrid: iconic venues in the city that host live concerts by candlelight. But exactly how many are there? We’re talking about thousands, and that’s no exaggeration: 5,000, 15,000, 30,000 candles…
There’s no set number because it all depends on each venue, but the result is always the same: every corner bathed in warm light thanks to thousands of points of light. But what seems simple actually involves a lot of work behind the scenes. A process that begins well before the concert starts —and here we’ll tell you every detail.
What Happens Before the Concert
It all starts with unpacking boxes. And boxes. And boxes. Each one contains candles sorted by batches, which are grouped on the floor by sections according to where they will be placed later. Once they’re all unpacked, the setup begins along the aisle, the stage, the steps, and basically every corner (always leaving space so the audience can move around comfortably).
And finally, the most impressive part: the lighting. The switches are turned on one by one in blocks. We check that each candle works correctly without any interfering with another, and that they all shine similarly.
The result is a magical atmosphere created by many hands in a methodical, steady, and equally magical way. And you can feel it in every space. In the case of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM), for example, the wood of the auditorium takes on a different hue precisely because of that illuminated staging.
To give you an idea: if we stacked 15,000 candles, their height would be ten times that of the Pirulí. Fifty times that of the Telefónica Building, if we were to do so with the 30,000 candles used in some spaces. We know, impressive.
But as with all good things, Candlelight also comes to an end. And when that moment arrives, the candles are extinguished one by one and grouped by area to be put away. And so it goes with every new concert, wherever or in whatever city it takes place.
So now, when you go to a Candlelight concert in Madrid again, not only will you know what goes on behind the scenes, but you’ll also be able to tell your date about it before the concert starts so you come across as the interesting and cultured person we know you are (because that’s just what people who go to Candlelight do).
