Photo: Luis García, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20066582.
Palacio de la Música, an emblematic building on Madrid’s Gran Vía, located at number 35, was designed by the Basque architect Secundino Zuazo Ugalde, commissioned by the Sociedad Anónima General de Espectáculos (SAGE), the owner of the land, and was inaugurated on November 13, 1926.
Its exterior is sober and elegant. It features exposed brickwork and an architraved gallery. This aesthetic contrasts with the ornate interior decoration, which is inspired by Sevillian Baroque.
The original idea was to accommodate both concerts and film screenings, so the architect broke with the classic “Italian-style” theater layout, in a horseshoe shape with boxes, and instead drew inspiration from American movie theaters, with rows of seats aligned parallel to the stage. He added two balconies in the same arrangement. The lower balcony contained a lounge with a bar and views of the street. And in the basement, a ballroom with a circular dance floor surrounded by columns. It was initially named Sala Olympia and later Musical Cinema.
Photo: Tamorlan – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19103562.
In December 1925, shortly before its planned opening, a section of the roof collapsed, injuring a neighbor. In 1932, a fire destroyed the stage and its acoustic apse. The following year, it reopened exclusively as a movie theater, and the organs it housed were removed.
With its double basement divided into smaller movie theaters, it remained in operation until June 22, 2008, when it closed its doors permanently. The Caja Madrid Foundation wanted to revive its original purpose, but the state intervention in Bankia halted the project, and other options have been considered, such as converting it into a shop or partially restoring its original function alongside restaurant services.
More information at:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacio_de_la_Música
https://www.prospectosdecine.com/madrid–palacio-de-la-musica
