(Photo Credit: Sergi Panizo)

The Ópera a Quemarropa Festival has announced its third edition, running July 3–18, 2026 across San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Aranjuez, and Alcalá de Henares.

Ana Sokolović’s a cappella “Svadba” opens the festival, performed by six female voices exploring the night before a wedding through Balkan folk poetry and tradition.

Performance Dates: July 3, Teatro Auditorio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial; July 4, Teatro Real Carlos III de Aranjuez

Pedro Halffter’s “Klara” stars soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea as a sentient robot questioning its own existence, accompanied by Halffter and Juan Carlos Garvayo performing at two pianos, with 3D projections and holographic effects.

Performance Dates: July 3, Teatro Real Carlos III de Aranjuez

The group La Madrileña, directed by José Antonio Montaño, performs Alessandro Scarlatti’s comic intermezzo “Pericca e Varrone” — drawn from the 1714 opera seria Scipione nelle Spagne — on period instruments with stage direction by Ignacio García.

Performance Dates: July 10, Aranjuez; July 11, San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Carles Prat’s “Estètica i massacre,” with a libretto by Carlota Gurt, receives its festival staging under the operatic directing debut of Emmy-winning actor Oriol Pla.

Performance Dates: July 10, Teatro Auditorio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial

The world premiere of “La clausura del amor,” with music by Reyes Oteo and direction by Ricardo Campelo, sets a text by Pascal Rambert for soprano Ruth González and baritone Enrique Sánchez-Ramos with chamber ensemble.

Performance Dates: July 17, Teatro Auditorio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial; July 18, Teatro Real Carlos III de Aranjuez