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Friday, February 21, 2025
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Teatro Lírico Nacional de La Zarzuela
C/ Jovellanos 4
Madrid
Madrid
Spain
91 524 54 00
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Madrid
Madrid
Spain
91 524 54 00
Comments ( 0 )
Rating (0 Votes)
In the 17th century, a unique form of theater sprang up as a way of entertaining Spain’s royalty. The Zarzuela, which draws its name from the royal residence of La Zarzuela outside Madrid where it was first performed, was originally a blend of monologues, singing, dancing and choruses devoted to heroic or mythical themes. The playwright Lope de Vega (1562-1635) was one among many of its notable writers.
During the following century the popularity of the Zarzuela waned until it was reincarnated in the 19th century as a lighter, more musically driven spectacle typically focusing on everyday life in Madrid. Among the later classics is La Revoltosa (The Rebel, 1897), a folksy rendition set in the streets of Madrid and another known by its condensed title, La Verbena de la Paloma (The Fair of the Virgin of the Dove, 1894), both of which the insightful writer James Michener held as masterpieces of this form. Today, the once-sharp humor of the Zarzuela may seem a little trite. Therein, perhaps, lies its beauty, for the true zarzuela has resisted modern refinement and, as such, is an entertaining mix of action and drama that offers a rare glimpse into a Spain long-since vanished. The Teatro Lírico Nacional de La Zarzuela hosts shows from October to December.
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