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.

The zarzuela in Catalonia

While the zarzuela tradition flourished in Madrid and other Spanish cities, Catalonia developed its own zarzuela, with librettos in Catalan. The spirit and the music differed from the prevailing style in Madrid; the Catalan zarzuela was looking to attract a different public, the bourgeois classes. Catalan zarzuela was turned little by little into Catalan lyric theatre, with its own personality and its own modernist authors and composers.

Related Topics:
Catalonia - Catalan

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In the last years of the 19th century, one of Pedrell's pupils Amadeo Vives came onto the Barcelona scene. He contributed to the creation of the Orfeo Catala in 1891, along with Lluis Millet. In a few years, however, his ambitions led him back to Madrid where the zarzuela was a greater musical force. Vives became one of the most important zarzuela composers, though such masterpieces as Do?a Francisquita, La villana (both based on plays by Lope de Vega) and the through-written opera in zarzuela style Maruxa.

Related Topics:
Pedrell - Amadeo Vives - Lluis Millet - Vives - Lope de Vega

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