review | rosalía’s LUX tour live in london

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

If you type Rosalía’s name into Google search right now, a cascade of lipstick-stained sheet music appears. It not only mirrors her current era of embracing the classics, but is a wink at how she’s helping modernise it too. The Schön! issue 35 cover star famously revived opera for the mainstream masses with her 2025 album ‘LUX’ and she managed to bring the same 360 artistry from the project to her world tour.

On its opening London night at the O2 arena, Rosalía showcased art in all its forms. Sometimes in the most literal sense, like when she covered Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” while peering through a gilded picture frame, but most often, the singer celebrated art through movement. The choreography throughout was contemporary and dynamic. One of the show’s most memorable moments (and there were plenty), was her performance of “La Perla.” Master minded by Greek choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou, the white gloves of her dancers created optical illusions with her body. In simple words, ‘LUX’ was a visual buffet.

From the live orchestra to ballet sequences, the Spanish singer elevated what it means to bring music to life on stage. She played with the artistic religious imagery from her album, bringing British singer Lola Young on stage for a live confessional. The set was minimal yet impactful, mirroring the mood of each section. There were flashy lights for ‘Motomami‘ throwbacks and featherlight fabrics during her ballet performance.  The atmosphere was lively and exhilarating, providing the kind of escapism that makes art so engaging. 

Vocally, the Catalan star has immense range and soared through dramatic operatic runs with ease. The crowd even collectively stood to give her a standing ovation mid-show. She took a moment to share her gratitude with fans, showing that behind the superstar on stage, there is an incredibly talented woman from Barcelona with a dream and determination. Rosalía continues to prove that she is a performer to her core, willing to bare her soul en pointe or on a platform. Her ‘LUX’ tour was a mesmerising masterclass on live performance done right. 

photography. Samir Hussein