Composer

:

Francisco de Paula Aguierre

Genre

:

Chamber

Average_duration

:

3:16

"Amalia" is a zarzuela, a Spanish form of musical theater, composed by Francisco de Paula Aguirre. It premiered on March 15, 1864, at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, Spain. The zarzuela consists of three acts and is set in the 18th century. The first act begins with a chorus of villagers celebrating the arrival of the Marquis of Monteflorido, who has returned to his estate after a long absence. The Marquis is accompanied by his daughter, Amalia, who is immediately smitten with a young man named Juan. However, Juan is in love with Rosaura, the daughter of the Marquis's steward. The act ends with a duet between Juan and Rosaura, expressing their love for each other. The second act takes place in the Marquis's palace, where a ball is being held in honor of Amalia's birthday. Juan and Rosaura attend the ball, but their happiness is short-lived when the Marquis discovers their relationship and forbids them from seeing each other. Amalia, who has also fallen in love with Juan, is heartbroken. The third act takes place in the village square, where a group of gypsies have set up camp. Juan, who has joined the gypsies, sings a passionate aria expressing his love for Rosaura. Amalia overhears the aria and realizes that Juan truly loves Rosaura. She decides to sacrifice her own happiness for Juan's and convinces her father to allow Juan and Rosaura to be together. The zarzuela ends with a joyful chorus celebrating the union of Juan and Rosaura. "Amalia" is characterized by its lively and melodic music, which incorporates elements of Spanish folk music. The zarzuela also features a strong romantic plot, with themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption. The music and plot combine to create a vibrant and emotional work that has remained popular in Spain and Latin America to this day.

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