The Sonata of Silence

The plot revolves around the life in Madrid of Marta Ribas (Marta Etura).[1] While the presentation of the leading character takes places in 1934, the bulk of the fiction is set in 1946, after the Civil War,[1][2] a society mired by machismo and the importance of outward appearances. Marta sees herself in a situation she begins to work to support her daughter Elena (Claudia Traisac) after her husband Antonio (Daniel Grao) falls ill, facing the latter's humiliated reaction; she also faces the gossiping of neighbours in relation to a misunderstanding with her neighbour Rafael (Eduardo Noriega), who is actually secretly in love with Marta.[3][4][5] However, the job interview to work as personal assistant to an Italian businesswoman, Roberta Moretti (Maria Rosaria Omaggio), will change her present and future.[6]

The apartment building most around which fiction develops is set in the Plaza del Ángel, in Madrid.[7]

The series is an adaptation of the novel La sonata del silencio, authored by Paloma Sánchez-Garnica and a best-selling work in Spain in 2014.[5] It was produced by RTVE in collaboration with José Frade PC.[13] The episodes were directed by Iñaki Peñafiel and Peris Romano, whereas the adapted screenplay was authored by Rodolf Sirera, Peris Romano, Sergio Barrejón, Anaïs Schaaff and Javier Olivares.[14] The score was composed by César Benito.[15]

Filming started by October 2015.[16] Outdoor shooting locations included the Calle de San Vicente Ferrer in Malasaña, Madrid.[17]

The series, consisting of 9 episodes,[18] premiered in prime time on 13 September 2016 on La 1,[19] the TVE's flagship channel. The broadcasting run ended on 1 November 2016.[19] It averaged unimpressive viewership ratings, with a 10.3% share of audience only slightly above the channel's average.[19]