From operas to film festivals, Madrid is showing how the arts can flourish despite Covid The Spanish capital is currently thriving as a centre of cultural activity. So how has it managed to carry on in the face of a pandemic? 9 March 2021 • 5:00am Madrid's renowned opera house Teatro Real staged Un ballo in maschera – or 'masked ball' – in September 2020 The British arts sector has been offered a glimmer of hope by the Government’s roadmap, with the potential reopening of venues in mid May heralding a summer of recovery. However, over in Madrid, reopening is old news. Thanks to its comparatively relaxed Covid rules, the Spanish capital has seen thriving cultural activity since last summer when arts venues welcomed back visitors.