Composer

:

Enriqué Granados

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1913 - 1915

Publication Date

:

1916

First Performance

:

Jan 28, 1916

Average_duration

:

59:47

Goyescas is an opera composed by Enriqué Granados, a Spanish composer, pianist, and conductor. The opera was composed between 1911 and 1913 and premiered on January 28, 1916, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The plot of Goyescas is based on the paintings and etchings of Francisco Goya, a Spanish painter and printmaker. The story revolves around the love affair between Rosario, a young woman from Madrid, and Fernando, a young officer. The two meet at a party and fall in love, but their relationship is complicated by the presence of Paquiro, a bullfighter who is also in love with Rosario. The opera explores themes of love, jealousy, and honor, set against the backdrop of Spanish society in the late 18th century. Goyescas is divided into three movements, each of which is named after a painting by Goya. The first movement, "Los Requiebros," is named after a painting of the same name and features a lively dance between Rosario and Fernando. The second movement, "Coloquio en la Reja," is named after a painting of two lovers talking through a gate and features a duet between Rosario and Fernando. The final movement, "El Fandango de Candil," is named after a painting of a couple dancing and features a lively dance between Rosario and Paquiro. One of the characteristics of Goyescas is its use of Spanish folk music and dance rhythms, such as the fandango and the seguidilla. Granados also incorporates elements of impressionism and modernism into the score, creating a unique blend of traditional Spanish music and contemporary European styles. Despite its initial success, Goyescas was overshadowed by the outbreak of World War I and the subsequent decline of the Metropolitan Opera. However, the opera has since been revived and is now considered one of Granados' most important works. Its influence can be seen in the works of other Spanish composers, such as Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Rodrigo, who also incorporated elements of Spanish folk music into their compositions.

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