Theatre, cinema, concerts thrive in Madrid despite virus

A man wearing a face mask watches a movie at the Renoir theatre in Madrid on Jan 8, 2021. Photo: AFP

With entertainment venues shuttered across much of Europe, Spain stands out as a cultural oasis where people still go to the theatre and cinema or watch concerts despite soaring infection rates.

"Having the chance to be here with you is a huge blessing and with all my heart I applaud the great efforts being made in this country to defend culture," Mexican tenor Javier Camarena told Madrid's Theatre Royal recently after going months without performing on stage.