Pablo Sorozabal Spanish composer Date of Birth: 18.09.1897 Country: Spain

Biography of Pablo Sorozábal

Pablo Sorozábal (full name Pablo Sorozábal Mariezcurrena) was born in 1897 in San Sebastian, Spain. He received his musical education in San Sebastian, Madrid, and Leipzig, and later in Berlin. In Berlin, he studied under Friedrich Koch and Arnold Schönberg. It was in Germany where he had his first experience performing his compositions in front of an audience.

Throughout his life, Sorozábal's career was closely tied to the stage and performances. He began composing symphonic music in 1922, later transitioning to the lyrical genre. Some of his well-known works include "Suite vasca" (1923), "Dos apuntes Vascos" (1925), and "Symphonic Variations on a Basque Theme" (1927). He gained recognition for his funeral march, "Gernika."

In the 1930s, Sorozábal worked on productions such as "Katiuska, la mujer rosa," "La guitarra de Figaro," "La isla de las perlas," "No me olvides," and "La casa de las tres muchachas." The 1940s proved to be the most productive period in his creative life, with works such as "La tabernera puerto," "La Rosario," "Don Manolito," and "Los burladores."

Sorozábal also gained fame as a composer of film music, most notably for the Spanish-Italian comedy "Marcelino, pan y vino" (Marcelino, Bread, and Wine) in 1955. He was also known for his zarzuelas (a musical-dramatic genre similar to operetta) such as "Black, el payaso" and "Don Manolito."

Due to the Spanish Civil War, Sorozábal found himself somewhat removed from the musical mainstream. Many of his zarzuelas enjoyed popularity outside the country or were staged in less prestigious theaters.

Sorozábal served as the director of the Madrid Symphony Orchestra until 1952 when he resigned due to his inability to obtain permission to stage Dmitri Shostakovich's "Leningrad Symphony."

The premiere of the musical comedy "Las de Caín" took place at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in 1958. However, the production of the opera "Juan José" was suspended in the 1970s and was not seen by the public until 2009. It is considered by many as his best work. Sadly, Sorozábal passed away before the premiere of "Juan José." He died in Madrid on December 26, 1988, marking the end of the last chapter in the romantic zarzuela's creative history.

Today, Pablo Sorozábal is regarded as one of the most outstanding authors of the Spanish lyrical genre of the 20th century.