Zarzuela is a subgenre of operetta.
Zarzuela is a stage genre that combines declamations, songs and instrumental parts. Its name comes from the Palacio de la Zarzuela , the place where this type of dramatic and musical work was performed for the first time. This palace was built in the 17th century by order of King Philip IV as a hunting pavilion and its name is due to the presence of brambles (also known as blackberries or blackberries).
The work of this genre and the lyrics or music of the same work are also called zarzuela. During the colonial era, zarzuela spread to America (in countries such as Cuba and Venezuela ) and the Philippines (where it was combined with local forms and gave rise to the birth of sarswela).
Considered a subgenre of operetta , zarzuela differs from the latter since its action takes place in a Spanish province and, in addition, always includes some musical fragment inspired by the typical music of Spain .
Exponents of zarzuela
Lope de Vega y Pedro Calderón de la Barca fueron algunos de los grandes escritores que, en las primeras épocas de la zarzuela, aportaron su genio al género. Por entonces se dividía a la zarzuela en gender boy (cuando constaban de un único acto) y large genus (con dos o más actos).
However, we must not overlook the figure of another series of important authors within the zarzuela genre who left their deep mark on it during the period between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. This would be the case of the Madrid composer Federico Chueca .
Among his most significant works in this field we should highlight, for example, “Last Year by Water” , “The White Vest” , “La Gran Vía” , “The Joy of the Garden” or “Water, Sugars and Aguardiente”. .
In the same way, the Basque composer Pablo Sorozábal Mariezcurrena and the Toledo composer Jacinto Guerrero have also become undisputed figures within this artistic genre, who created such important works as “La del manojo de rosas” and “La rosa del azafrán” respectively. .
A dish that includes fish and seafood is called zarzuela.
«The Paloma Festival»
One of the best-known works within the field of zarzuela, which has managed to become a great classic, is the one entitled “La verbena de la Paloma” . In 1894 , taking Madrid's Teatro Apolo as its stage, the one that is also known by the name of “The Apothecary and the Chulapas and Badly Repressed Jealousy” was presented.
Ricardo de la Vega was in charge of writing the libretto while Tomás Bretón was the one who composed the music for this story that revolves around one of the best-known festivals in Madrid : the Verbena de la Paloma . In this context, a young man will have an attack of jealousy when his girlfriend attends the celebration in the company of an old apothecary.
From zarzuela to zarzuelita and gastronomy
The historical development of zarzuela included the appearance of zarzuelita , a genre that emerged in the 19th century and was linked to sainete .
Finally, it should be noted that zarzuela, in another sense, is a dish that consists of the combination of various types of fish and seafood, seasoned with a sauce.