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Francisco Asenjo BarbieriSpanish musician, zarzuela composer
Date of Birth: 03.08.1823
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Biography of Francisco Asenjo Barbieri
- Career and Contributions
- Musical Style and Legacy
- Death and Legacy
Biography of Francisco Asenjo Barbieri
Early Life and EducationFrancisco Asenjo Barbieri was born in 1823 in Madrid, Spain. As a young boy, he developed a passion for the theater, influenced by his grandfather who was a theater director at Teatro de la Cruz. Barbieri later added the surname Barbieri as a tribute to his grandfather. He studied composition, piano, and clarinet at the Madrid Conservatory and began his career as a clarinetist in a military orchestra while also performing as a pianist and opera singer.
Career and Contributions
In 1866, Barbieri became the conductor of the Society for Orchestral Music in Madrid and founded the community La Espana Musical, which aimed to promote Spanish opera music. He also wrote music criticism for the newspaper 'Illustraciуn'. From 1868, he served as a professor of harmony and music history at the Madrid Conservatory. Barbieri is most associated with reviving the Spanish operatic genre of sarsuela.
Musical Style and Legacy
Barbieri's compositions mostly consist of farces that aimed to entertain the audience. His works often explored love and relationships between social classes in 19th century Spanish society. Characters and themes in his compositions exemplify a unique Spanish flavor, incorporating national symbols such as bullfighters. Many of his works also contain noticeable political critiques, such as 'El barberillo de Lavapiés' and 'Pan y toros', which expose government corruption.
Barbieri's musical legacy is significant, with over 70 sarsuelas to his name, including 'Gloria у Peluca', 'Jugar con fuego', and 'Los diamantes de la corona'. He also published a collection of ancient Spanish songs called 'Cancionero musical de los siglos XV- XVI' in 1890. His influence extended to renowned Spanish musicians such as Isaac Albeniz and Manuel de Falla.
Death and Legacy
Francisco Asenjo Barbieri passed away on February 17 (or 19, according to some sources) in 1894 in his beloved city of Madrid. He was widely recognized and respected as a beloved musician in Spain.
