Madrid, April 20: Telefónica celebrated its centennial with a grand gala at the Teatro Real in Madrid, attended by His Majesty King Felipe VI.
The event was graced by notable figures including the Speaker of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol, President of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido, and the Third Vice President of the Government and Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera. Joining them were the Ministers of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, and of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, among other dignitaries, business leaders, and cultural and sports representatives.
The festivities commenced with the Spanish national anthem performed by the Orchestra of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, followed by a special symphony composed for the occasion by Madrid’s Lucas Vidal.
Telefónica’s Chairman, José María Álvarez-Pallete, delivered the welcome address, expressing gratitude to King Felipe VI for his “affection, closeness and warmth” towards Telefónica. He reminisced about the company’s inception 100 years ago near the Royal Theater, highlighting Telefónica’s enduring commitment to service. Álvarez-Pallete also paid tribute to the company’s employees, shareholders, partners, and the families of past presidents, including the late César Alierta.
The artistic showcase featured performances by Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, violinist María Dueñas, pianist Lang Lang, and dancer Sara Baras. The program consisted of an eclectic mix of bel canto, zarzuela, classical, and flamenco pieces, celebrating diverse musical traditions and their fusion.
The highlight of the evening was an immersive ‘videomapping’ presentation, which narrated Telefónica’s history through dynamic visuals projected across the theater’s walls. The orchestral performance included a visually spectacular segment with forty drones flying in formation to the tune of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Flight of the Blowfly,” arranged with the orchestra musicians on vertical scaffolding.
The gala concluded with all the performers joining together for a celebratory ‘Happy Birthday’ rendition, capping off the centenary celebrations of Telefónica in grand style.
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