A technician walks past a giant clown statue, an element of the set of a new production of "The Bartered Bride" a comic opera in three acts by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana staged by French opera and theatre director Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real in Madrid on March 25, 2026. The opera premieres on April 14, 2026 at Madrid's Teatro Real with a large part of its costumes and props and scenery made from recycled material in accordance with the theatre's sustainability policy. The opera will also be performed at the Opera National in Lyon, France, the Oper Kholn in Cologne, Germany, and at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP via Getty Images)

Austrian bass-baritone Martin Winkler (L) and US tenor Sean Panikkar perform during a rehearsal of a new production of "The Bartered Bride" the comic opera in three acts by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana staged by French opera and theatre director Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real in Madrid on April 6, 2026. The opera premieres on April 14, 2026 at Madrid's Teatro Real with a large part of its costumes and props and scenery made from recycled material in accordance with the theatre's sustainability policy. The opera will also be performed at the Opera National in Lyon, France, the Oper Kholn in Cologne, Germany, and at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP via Getty Images)

AFP presents a selection of 59 photos taken by Pierre-Philippe Marcou between March 19 and April 6, 2026 at the Teatro Real in Madrid during the preparation of "The Bartered Bride", an opera staged by French director Laurent Pelly, presenting costumes and scenery made from recycled material. Search for all these reportage images using: SPAIN-FRANCE-MUSIC-OPERA-PELLY Search "REPORTAGE" to source all feature, magazine and photo essays (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP via Getty Images)

Russian soprano Svetlana Aksenova (R) performs during a rehearsal of a new production of "The Bartered Bride", a comic opera in three acts by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana staged by French opera and theatre director Laurent Pelly (L) at the Teatro Real in Madrid on March 19, 2026. The opera premieres on April 14, 2026 at Madrid's Teatro Real with a large part of its costumes and props and scenery made from recycled material in accordance with the theatre's sustainability policy. The opera will also be performed at the Opera National in Lyon, France, the Oper Kholn in Cologne, Germany, and at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP via Getty Images)

Russian soprano Svetlana Aksenova (R) and Austrian bass Günther Groissbock (L) perform during a rehearsal of a new production of "The Bartered Bride" the comic opera in three acts by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana staged by French opera and theatre director Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real in Madrid on March 19, 2026. The opera premieres on April 14, 2026 at Madrid's Teatro Real with a large part of its costumes and props and scenery made from recycled material in accordance with the theatre's sustainability policy. The opera will also be performed at the Opera National in Lyon, France, the Oper Kholn in Cologne, Germany, and at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP via Getty Images)

INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Olandria and Tinashe visit Red Bull Mirage during Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Red Bull)

INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Tinashe visits Red Bull Mirage during Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Red Bull)

INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Nicolas Vansteenberghe and Olandria visit Red Bull Mirage during Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Red Bull)