Why go
For a regional contrast, pair Andalusian flamenco with the gaiteros, or bagpipers, of Galicia and Asturias. Classical music adds another strand through composers such as Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla and Enrique Granados. Barcelona's Liceu and Madrid's Teatro Real are named anchors for an opera-focused trip.
The full story
Flamenco is closely associated with western Andalusia and should not stand in for every Spanish music tradition. Folk music differs across Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. In the Atlantic north, bagpipers known as gaiteros are a distinctive part of the soundscape. Spain also produced classical composers including Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla and Enrique Granados, alongside prominent singers and instrumentalists. Major opera houses include the Teatro Real in Madrid and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Contemporary music has its own settings, from electronic acts associated with Sónar to rock and dance at Benicàssim. The useful choice for a visitor is therefore geographic and musical: seek a tradition in the region where it has roots, or build a city stay around a particular performance.