Manuel Carrasco Shines at Bernabéu: A Night of Proposals, Hits, and Special Guests
In a landmark event, Manuel Carrasco made history as the first national artist to fill the newly renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. With over 60,000 fans in attendance, the Andalusian singer concluded his Corazón y Flecha tour on Saturday, June 29.
“Good evening, Madrid! People ask me what the secret is. There’s no secret or magic formula. The only secret and the greatest treasure is you, who have come to be with me tonight,” Carrasco said. “It’s incredible it doesn’t seem real. I’m filling the Bernabéu without Real Madrid playing. Let’s enjoy this moment!”
Carrasco’s rise to fame began in 2002 on the reality show Operación Triunfo. Since then, he has released nine studio albums and achieved numerous milestones. In 2022, he set a record by drawing over 74,000 people to La Cartuja in Seville, the largest audience for a solo Spanish artist. Now, he has matched this achievement at Santiago Bernabéu.
The two-and-a-half-hour concert celebrated Carrasco’s career and featured special guests. Niña Pastori was the first to join him on stage, performing “Ayer noche” and “Amor de San Juan.” Luis Fonsi followed, singing “Coquito” and “Échame la culpa” with Carrasco. Camilo also made an appearance, collaborating on “Salitre” and “Vida de rico.”
Later, Malú took the stage to perform “Que nadie”, followed by a tribute with “Libélula” to honor the late Spanish influencer and activist Elena Huelva. Juanes provided the highlight of the night, performing “Ya no” and “A Dios le pido” with Carrasco.
A standout moment was when Carrasco sang a song written for the event, waving an LGBT flag and calling for peace and an end to the suffering of Palestinian children. During his performance of “Volviste”, five couples got engaged, chosen from 954 marriage proposals received by the show’s producers, as Carrasco interacted with the audience.
The concert concluded with “Hasta por la mañana,” ending a tour that began over a year ago in Miami and saw Carrasco perform across Spain for over 300,000 fans. The tour, named “The Last Arrow,” celebrated his album Corazón y Flecha (Heart and Arrow) and solidified Carrasco’s status in contemporary Spanish music. He ended the concert by launching an arrow, as he had at the start of each show, but this time surrounded by his children.
“Now, it’s time to say goodbye, to close the curtain and make way for new horizons. I hope we meet again on the road or in the stars. Thank you, Madrid. I love you very much. Thank you for tonight,” Carrasco said before leaving the stage.
The concert marked a significant milestone in Carrasco’s career and created lasting memories for his fans, highlighting his enduring popularity and strong connection with his audience.
