“Café Cantante” was originally born in Andalucía, Spain in the mid eighteenth century. This term was given to full-service cafés decorated with mirrors and posters of bullfighters and popular culture that had tables and a small wooden stage where “light and frivolous” acts of singing, music, dance (mainly flamenco), poetry and theatre were performed. Prior to these establishments being opened, art of this sort was kept strictly to familial settings or private events hosted by the elite.
Café Cantantes were venues where artists could pool together their talents and resources with little (if any) overhead. Many famous artists’ careers were launched at these establishments because they were able to reach mass audiences and consequently travel to key cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Paris and the American continents. New styles of music were formed as a result of these gatherings.
Following in this unique collaborative tradition, Teatro Mistral re-creates the “Café Cantante”
We’d be interested in hearing from you about the project!
Have you heard of the Café Cantantes? Have a story or anecdote to share?