Madrid is playing a leading role in the presentation of Lux, Rosalía’s new album, which was released on November 7. First it was the tumultuous and improvised event in Callao a couple of weeks ago and now it has been the choice of an architectural jewel for the development of an interview.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHej7lCA6m/?img_index=1
An interview in which he talks about the creation process and the meaning of this fourth album and which he has granted to the journalist Zane Lowe, a key figure in the global music scene and creative director of Apple Music.
What was relevant was not only the content of the talk, but also the place where it took place: the Beti Jai fronton, an architectural jewel of Madrid’s heritage.
A stage with history for an album full of layers.
Beti Jai is witness to the many changes that Madrid has gone through since the end of the 19th century. It was inaugurated in 1894 during Madrid’s fever for Basque pelota, driven in part by the Royal House’s fondness for the sport. Its name, which in Basque means “always a party”, reflects the spirit with which this venue was born, conceived as the great sports theater of the time.
The project, the work of architect Joaquín Rucoba, stands out for its unique blend of styles: neo-Mudejar, neoclassical and iron architecture, a fusion that makes it an example of the industrial aesthetics of the end of the century.
Just a few decades after its opening, the fashion of the ball was declining and the Beti Jai was adapted to new uses: concerts, rallies, workshops, warehouses, even function as a police station during the Civil War. For more than a century, it was a multifunctional place, often forgotten, until its expropriation by the Madrid City Council in 2015 and its subsequent restoration.
From a sports temple to a place of cultural worship
Rosalia and Zane Lowe’s choice of the Beti Jai for such an intimate and meaningful interview does not seem casual. The space, which has survived oblivion, speculation and neglect, somehow represents the capacity for transformation that also runs through the singer’s career. Lux, with its 13 languages, symphonic orchestrations and mystical references, is probably (and this, with Rosalía, will almost certainly be said with each new album) her most ambitious work to date.
The building, recently awarded the National Prize for the Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage 2025, has regained its original splendor thanks to painstaking restoration work that has respected its essence.
How to visit the Beti Jai fronton
As a result of this media interview, many are wondering how they can get to know this unique place in person. The good news is that the Beti Jai can be visited free of charge. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday and offers a tour of both the court and its Interpretation Center, which reviews its history, its various uses and the restoration processes it has undergone.
Visiting hours:
- From October 1 to June 14: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- From June 15 to September 30: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- Closed on October 23, December 25 and January 1.
Address: Calle del Marqués de Riscal, 7, Madrid (metro Rubén Darío or Alonso Martínez).