Image: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid
Madrid’s Carabanchel district will host the second edition of the International Piano Festival 'Madrid a Tempo' from September 1 to 6, with concerts, master classes, workshops and a participatory open-air piano performance planned across the week. The programme, presented by the district council, is designed to bring classical music to broader audiences through a mix of performances and training activities.
The festival’s main base will be the Federico Moreno Torroba Integrated Centre for Musical Education in Carabanchel, where the formative side of the programme will take place. According to the city’s announcement, the school will host master classes, specialised workshops, supervised practice sessions and meetings with teachers described as having recognised international standing.
One of the most visible events will be 'Open Piano D11' on September 5 at the Puente de Toledo. For that day, a grand piano will be placed in the public space so that anyone who wishes can play it freely. The city describes the intervention as a way of turning an everyday setting into an open stage for residents and visitors.
The festival will also include free concerts in different parts of Madrid during the week. Alongside those performances, the programme adds a cultural tour of the city for students and teachers, aimed at encouraging familiarity with Madrid’s heritage. The city says the wider mix of public, educational and participatory activities is intended to make classical music more accessible.
Carabanchel’s district council also plans to fund two scholarships for students at the Federico Moreno Torroba centre through the municipal cultural project 'Distrito 11'. The scholarships are part of the festival’s emphasis on training and access for young musicians.
The city’s announcement notes that the first edition drew piano students from seven countries and brought together more than 3,500 attendees. This year’s festival runs from September 1 to 6 in Carabanchel, Madrid, with the open piano event scheduled for September 5 at the Puente de Toledo.
