Rosalía Reflects on Childhood Dream in London
During the opening UK date of Rosalía's spectacular Lux tour, the Spanish superstar shared a personal memory with her audience at the O2 Arena. She recalled her childhood dream of performing in London, specifically at the Royal Albert Hall.
"When I was studying music in Barcelona, I always dreamt of singing in one very specific place," she told fans, before adding with perfect comic timing: "And that place is the Royal Albert Hall.
"I would say it constantly to myself," she continued. "The Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Albert Hall...
"And I never did it. But now I've sold out the O2 twice. God bless London!"
This intimate detail stood out amid a grand production, highlighting Rosalía's remarkable rise as a global pop icon.
A Unique Fusion of Flamenco and Global Sounds
Born in Barcelona, Rosalía has transformed her flamenco roots into a boundary-defying career that blends opera, classical, hip-hop, and mamba across multiple languages and genres.
Her acceptance in the UK is notable, given the country's historical resistance to Spanish-language music or non-English songs.
Earlier this year, in February, she won the Brit Award for Best International Artist. This week, she performed for 40,000 fans over two nights at the O2 Arena, a venue four times larger than the Royal Albert Hall she once dreamed of.
Fans arrived adorned in lace mantillas and carrying votive candles, filling Tube trains with Spanish slang as they eagerly anticipated the concert.
A Show of Breathtaking Vocals and Iconography
From the outset, Rosalía delivered a performance rich with stunning vocals and unforgettable set pieces inspired by both religious and secular imagery.
She took on personas such as the Mona Lisa and an Edgar Degas ballerina, engaged the audience by asking them to teach her an English accent, danced with exuberance, and explored themes of devotion, fame, and idol worship.
The show’s narrative drew from her fourth album, Lux, a profound and exhilarating examination of the human condition that questions why earthly and divine realms must remain distant.
Throughout, the 33-year-old alternated between portraying purity and flaw, innocence and devilry, adapting to the mood.
"I fit in the world / And the world fits into me," she sang on "La Yugular."
"I contradict myself / I transform," she added during a powerful rendition of "Saoko," from her second album, Motomami.
Her complex contradictions made the idea of heaven feel attainable for the duration of the 90-minute show.
Progression from Restriction to Liberation
The concert began with Rosalía embodying a music box ballerina, her movements limited as dancers carried her across the stage.
Gradually, she gained autonomy, dancing en pointe during "Porcelana" and delivering a tearful, vocally impressive performance of the operatic "Mio Cristo Piange Diamante."
By the third act, she was fully energized—drinking a glass of wine before performing "Sauvignon Blanc," a ballad about relinquishing material possessions for love.
She then led the crowd in an exuberant rave during "Cuuuuuuuuuute," accompanied by a massive incense burner suspended from the ceiling emitting smoke and strobe lights.
Despite the high-concept nature of the show, Rosalía’s intelligence and humor ensured the performance remained fun and engaging.
Lola Young’s Confession and Intimate Moments
Midway through the concert, Rosalía appeared as the Mona Lisa, singing Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" to a select group of fans invited onstage.
She then invited English pop singer Lola Young into a confessional booth to share a dark secret.
Young recounted a story about her ex-boyfriend whose phone rang during an intimate moment. Instead of silencing it, he left the room, unaware that the call was still connected to the Bluetooth speaker.
"And I heard his wife asking him to bring back nappies for his kids."
"What did you do?" asked Rosalía, stunned.
"I lost the plot," Young admitted. "And then I thought, 'I'll go back to [dating] women.'"
Rosalía used this moment to introduce her song "La Perla," reportedly about her former fiancé Rauw Alejandro, with lyrics describing a "terrorista emocional" whose proudest achievement is a collection of bras.
During the performance, dancers covered her with white-gloved hands, transforming her into the Venus de Milo, then a bride, and finally an angel.
"La Perla" is the most popular track on Lux and one of the night’s biggest sing-alongs. Rosalía projected English translations of her lyrics on a screen above the stage to help fans follow along.
A teleprompter at the back of the arena kept her on track, which was necessary given the album’s incorporation of 14 different languages and dialects.
Orchestral Accompaniment and Powerful Sound
Rosalía was accompanied by the 22-piece Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Yudania Gómez Heredia from a crucifix-shaped stage positioned in the center of the arena floor.
Despite the classical elements, this concert was the loudest ever experienced at the O2, especially during a thumping techno remix of "Berghain," which Rosalía premiered at this year’s Brit Awards.
Such a large-scale production would not have suited the Royal Albert Hall, but a stripped-back version of this show could be ideal for a Prom concert.
Someone should get Radio 3 on the phone.
