Role

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Composer

Period

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Modern

Genre

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Opera

 

Reveriano Soutullo Otero and Juan Vert Carbonell were two Spanish composers who collaborated on a number of zarzuelas, a form of Spanish operetta. Soutullo was born on October 1, 1880, in Ponteareas, Galicia, Spain, while Vert was born on December 5, 1890, in Valencia, Spain. Soutullo began his musical studies at a young age, studying piano and composition at the Conservatory of Madrid. He later studied in Paris and Rome, where he was exposed to the works of Italian opera composers such as Verdi and Puccini. Upon returning to Spain, Soutullo began composing zarzuelas, a popular form of musical theater in Spain that combined spoken dialogue with musical numbers. Vert, on the other hand, began his musical studies at the Valencia Conservatory, where he studied piano, harmony, and composition. He later moved to Madrid to continue his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he met Soutullo. The two composers began collaborating on zarzuelas in the early 1900s, and their first major success came in 1915 with the premiere of their zarzuela "La del Soto del Parral." Over the next two decades, Soutullo and Vert continued to collaborate on a number of successful zarzuelas, including "El último romántico" (1928), "La leyenda del beso" (1924), and "La del manojo de rosas" (1934). Their works were known for their catchy melodies, lively rhythms, and colorful orchestrations, and they became some of the most popular composers of zarzuela in Spain. One of their most famous works, "La leyenda del beso," tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a gypsy girl, only to be separated from her by his wealthy family. The zarzuela features a number of memorable musical numbers, including the famous aria "No puede ser," which has become a staple of the Spanish operatic repertoire. Another notable work by Soutullo and Vert is "La del manojo de rosas," which tells the story of a young woman who works in a flower shop and falls in love with a man who is pretending to be a wealthy businessman. The zarzuela features a number of lively musical numbers, including the popular "Vals de las rosas." Soutullo and Vert's music was popular not only in Spain but also in Latin America, where zarzuela was also a popular form of musical theater. Their works were performed in theaters throughout the Spanish-speaking world, and they became some of the most successful composers of zarzuela of the early 20th century. Despite their success, Soutullo and Vert's careers were cut short by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Soutullo died in Madrid on November 29, 1932, while Vert died in Valencia on March 21, 1931. However, their music continued to be performed and recorded in the years following their deaths, and their legacy as two of the most important composers of zarzuela in Spain remains strong to this day.

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