Cristóbal Oudrid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cristóbal Oudrid
Cristóbal Oudrid, 22 March 1877
Born	Cristóbal Carlos Domingo Romualdo y Ricardo Oudrid y Segura (1825-02-07)7 February 1825 Badajoz, Spain
Died	13 March 1877(1877-03-13) (aged 52) Madrid, Spain
Spouse(s)	Vicenta Munoz Vallejo
Parent(s)	Cristóbal Oudrid y Estarón, Antonia Segura González

Cristóbal Oudrid (born February 7, 1825 – died March 13, 1877) was a talented Spanish musician. He was a pianist, a conductor, and a composer. He is best known for helping to create and develop the zarzuela in Spain. A zarzuela is a special type of Spanish musical play that mixes singing, speaking, and dancing.

Cristóbal Oudrid had a very successful career that lasted over 25 years. During this time, he created more than one hundred musical works. Many of these were made with other composers. His first musical play was a zarzuela called La Venta del Puerto o Juanillo El Contrabandista. It was first performed in 1846. He also worked with other famous artists like Francisco Asenjo Barbieri and Joaquín Gaztambide. Together, they helped make zarzuela a very important part of Spanish culture. In 1851, they even started a group called the Sociedad Artística Musical to promote their music.

Oudrid was also a very busy bandmaster, which means he led orchestras. In the 1850s and early 1860s, he conducted orchestras at important theaters like Teatro Real and Teatro de la Zarzuela. His very last performance was a rehearsal for an opera called Mignon.

Early Life and Musical Start

Cristóbal Oudrid was born in Badajoz, Spain, on February 7, 1825. His grandfather was a military bandmaster, so music was in his family! Cristóbal's father, Carlos Oudrid Estarón, taught him the first steps of music. He learned basic music theory and how to play the piano.

Even when he was very young, Cristóbal showed a lot of musical talent. He started arranging music by famous composers like Haydn and Mozart. He also taught himself to play several wind instruments, such as the clarinet, French horn, and oboe. Later, he became the musical director for a group called the Liceo de Badajoz.

After his father passed away in 1843, Oudrid moved to Madrid. He wanted to become a successful musician there. He studied piano with Pedro Albéniz, a well-known teacher. Friends helped him find work playing piano in concerts and coffee shops. He also joined the Royal Orchestra as a clarinet player. Soon, he became known for playing piano and for arranging operas. He even started publishing his own songs and piano pieces in 1845.

A Career in Music and Zarzuela

In 1847, Oudrid began writing music for the stage. His zarzuela, La Venta del Puerto o Juanillo El Contrabandista, was a big hit. It made him one of Madrid's most popular composers. He then worked with Luis de Cepeda and Sebastián Iradier on another successful play, La Pradera del Canal.

A very important moment came in 1848. Oudrid worked with Rafael Hernando to put on El Ensayo de una Ópera. This show helped to bring back and refresh the modern zarzuela. It made Spanish theater more exciting and artistic.

In the following years, Oudrid created many more successful works. In 1850, he teamed up with Rafael Hernando Palomar, Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, and Joaquín Gaztambide y Garbayo for Escenas de Chamberí. This collaboration led to the creation of the Sociedad Artística Musical in 1851. This group of composers and artists worked together to create new zarzuelas. They wanted to share the profits equally.

However, not all their shows were equally successful. By 1853, some members felt that others were not contributing enough. This led to a change in the society. Oudrid, José Inzenga, and Rafael Hernando left the group. Even so, Oudrid continued to compose. He wrote about fifty more zarzuelas, including El Postillón de la Rioja (1856) and El Molinero de Subiza (1870).

In 1860, Oudrid became the director of the orchestra at Teatro del Circo. He later became the director of Teatro de la Zarzuela. He worked as a choirmaster and then as a music director at Teatro Real starting in 1870.

Oudrid's most famous work, a three-act zarzuela called El molinero de Subiza, was performed in 1870. His last work was Blancos y azules in 1876. Cristóbal Oudrid passed away suddenly on March 13, 1877, at the age of 52. He was at Teatro Real, preparing for an opera performance.

Other Important Works

One of Oudrid's most famous pieces is La Rondalla Aragonesa. It comes from his symphonic poem El Sitio de Zaragoza. This music tells the story of the city of Zaragoza fighting against Napoleon's troops. It was first performed in 1856. Another well-known symphonic work is his Rondeña.

He also wrote many popular zarzuela-arias, which are songs for a single singer. These include La Pajarita and La Macarena. Oudrid also composed patriotic and military songs. One of his most famous is the Salve Marinera. This song was adopted as the official anthem of the Spanish Navy in 1870.

Zarzuelas List

See also

In Spanish: Cristóbal Oudrid para niños