Teatro de la Zarzuela facts for kids
Auditorium of the Teatro de la Zarzuela
|
|
| Location | Madrid, Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°25′02″N 3°41′48″W / 40.417185°N 3.696782°W |
| Capacity | 1,242 seats |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 10 October 1856 |
| Reopened | 1914 |
| Rebuilt | 1910–1913 |
| Architect |
|
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 4 March 1994 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0008693 |
The Teatro de la Zarzuela is a famous theatre located in Madrid, Spain. It is well-known for showing zarzuela, which is a special type of Spanish musical theatre. This theatre also hosts operettas (lighter operas) and music concerts. It's a great place to experience Spanish culture and music!
Contents
History of the Teatro de la Zarzuela
How the Theatre Was Built
The Teatro de la Zarzuela was designed by an architect named Jerónimo de la Gándara. It was built by José María Sánchez Guallart. The idea came from a group called the Spanish Lyrical Company. They wanted a special place in Madrid to perform operettas.
The theatre's design was inspired by the famous La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy. It has a unique horseshoe shape with three levels. The Teatro de la Zarzuela first opened its doors on October 10, 1856. This date was special because it was the birthday of Queen Isabella II.
What is Zarzuela?
The theatre is named after zarzuela. This is a type of Spanish play that mixes spoken parts with sung songs. It's like a musical, but with a unique Spanish style. Many important artists helped create this theatre. These included composers like Francisco Asenjo Barbieri and Joaquín Gaztambide.
Challenges and Rebuilding Efforts
In the late 1800s, the Teatro de la Zarzuela became Madrid's main opera house. It showed many famous musical works. However, on November 9, 1909, a big fire almost completely destroyed the building.
The theatre was rebuilt by Cesareo Iradier. He used less wood and metal to make it safer. In 1914, the theatre reopened with a performance led by Maestro Pablo Luna. For many years, from 1925 to 1997, another big opera house in Madrid, the Teatro Real, was closed. During this time, the Teatro de la Zarzuela was the most important place for opera in the city. The theatre's main music group is the Community of Madrid Orchestra.
Changes Over the Years
The theatre's ceiling once had beautiful paintings by Francisco Hernández Tomé and Manuel Castellanos. Sadly, these were lost during changes made in 1956. The theatre was later bought by a group called the Sociedad General de Autores de España. Some of its original look was changed.
Later, the Spanish government took ownership of the theatre. In 1984, the Ministry of Culture decided to expand what the theatre offered. Besides zarzuela and opera, they started showing flamenco and other dance performances. In 1994, the building was given special heritage status. This means it is an important historical landmark. In 1998, it was updated again, bringing back much of its original design.
Images for kids
-
Auditorium of the Teatro de la Zarzuela
See also
In Spanish: Teatro de la Zarzuela para niños
- Emilio Arrieta
- Manuel Fernández Caballero
- Antonia García de Videgain
- Francisco Alonso
- Jerónimo Jiménez
- José María Alvira
- Ruperto Chapí
