Rutas y repertorios de las compañías españolas de zarzuela en Portugal en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX

Abstract

This essay studies the presence of dozens of Spanish zarzuela companies in Portugal between 1856 and 1899, presenting a broad repertoire. Among them, some stood out for their notoriety, such as the zarzuela and dance company of José González, which performed in 1859 at the Lisbon Opera House, the San Carlos, and included singers who had previously performed in different Spanish theaters and would later perform in Cuba and Mexico. Two companies from the Teatro Circo de Price in Lisbon hired Elisa Zamacois in 1865 and 1866, who stirred passions in the Portuguese capital and in 1869 was located in the Havana theaters Tacón and Albisu. Zamacois was part of the Gaztambide company, which later travelled to Mexico. Even the company from the Teatro Apolo in Madrid gathered in the Portuguese capital in 1884 Fernández Caballero, Chapí, and Ramos Carrión, who were decorated by King D. Luis I of Portugal. As a final example, the company of maestro Cereceda travelled to Lisbon in 1888, 1892, and in 1895, conducting a tour in other Portuguese cities in the latter year. These and other groups contributed to fostering a taste for zarzuela in Portugal and cultivated a loyal audience well-versed in the repertoire.