“From Madrid to the heavens,” as the saying goes. And indeed, starting in 2026, the capital is paying more attention to the moon’s emotional state than to the subway construction. But we’re not the first to be so fixated on this, nor will we have to wait until 2027 to experience something that reminds us of that brief (and impressive) solar eclipse.
And it all comes down to the same event in Madrid: a Halloween-themed concert featuring the famous French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
30 October 2026 20:00
He scheduled his concert dates according to eclipses
A composer by profession but an astronomer at heart, Camille Saint-Saëns was the author of such frequently covered works as *The Carnival of the Animals* and *Danse Macabre*. But in addition to his musical career, he had a wide range of interests, from botany and archaeology… to astronomy.
And not just as a hobby. He was a member of the French Astronomical Society, owned his own telescopes, and even went so far as to organize his tours based on where and when solar eclipses were going to occur so he could observe them. In fact, he didn’t need a concert as an excuse to come to Spain on August 30, 1905, and witness that year’s total solar eclipse from Burgos.
From the Teatro Real in 1897 to the Complutense University’s Paraninfo in 2026
“But is this what you call ‘lowbrow’?”: that’s how Saint-Saëns expressed his excitement after seeing the premiere of *La Revoltosa* at the Teatro Real in 1897. Words that ensured that a subgenre so authentically traditional and so closely tied to the humblest audiences would earn the wholehearted approval of a genius like the French composer.
And now, his name is once again resonating with classical music in Madrid. This time with his “Danse Macabre” as part of a varied repertoire dedicated to Halloween classics. It will take place in the Paraninfo at the Complutense University of Madrid. Equally historic and impressive, it currently occupies the site of the former Jesuit Novitiate church.
Everything you need to know about the Halloween concert in Madrid
📅 When: Friday, October 30, 2026
🕒 Time: 8:00 p.m.
📍 Where: Auditorium of the Complutense University of Madrid (Calle de San Bernardo, 49)
🎟️ Tickets: starting at €14