Zarzuela

Zarzuela (IPA /θarθ'wela/) is the Spanish lyrical opera. The name "zarzuela" is derived from "zarza" ("bramble"), for the bramble that grew outside the Palacio de la Zarzuela named for it. It is the residence of the Spanish royal family, outside Madrid; the opera style was named for the palace, where in the 17th century this kind of drama was held for the Spanish court.

Baroque zarzuela

In 1657 at the Royal Palace of El Pardo, King Philip IV of Spain, Queen Mariana and their court attended the first performance of a new comedy by Pedro Calderón de la Barca, with music by Juan de Hidalgo. El Laurel de Apolo traditionally symbolises the birth of a new musical genre which had become known as La Zarzuela — after one of the King's hunting lodges, situated in a remote countryside thick with zarzas or brambles. The Baroque Zarzuela, a mixture of spoken (often verse) dialogue, operatic-style arias, popular songs and dances, often on mythological themes, enjoyed almost one hundred years of popularity before being edged out by the fashion for Italian Opera.

Related Topics:
1657 - Philip IV of Spain - Pedro Calderón de la Barca - Juan de Hidalgo - One of the King's hunting lodges - Bramble - Baroque - Italian Opera

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