Federico Moreno Torroba (3 March 189112 September 1982) was a Spanish
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
, conductor, and theatrical
impresario
An impresario (from Italian ''impresa'', 'an enterprise or undertaking') is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, Play (theatre), plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film producer, film or ...
. He is especially remembered for his important contributions to the
classical guitar
The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...
repertoire, becoming one of the leading twentieth-century composers for the instrument. He was also one of the foremost composers of
zarzuela
() is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name o ...
s, a form of Spanish
light opera
Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue.
Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...
. His 1932 zarzuela ''
Luisa Fernanda
Luisa Fernanda is a former television entertainment news anchor, radio broadcaster, theatre and soap actress, singer and model. She was born on December 17th, 1970 in Mexico City. She worked for HSE in 2001 then Telemundo until the end of 2007. ...
'' has proved to be enduringly popular. In addition, he composed
ballets
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
, symphonic works, and piano pieces, as well as one-act
operas
Opera is a form of Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a li ...
and one full-length opera, '' El poeta'', which premiered in 1980, starring well-known tenor
Plácido Domingo
José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...
. Moreno Torroba also ran his own zarzuela company, which toured extensively, especially in
Latin America
Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
.
Biography and career
Over the course of his long career, Moreno Torroba composed many works, both in traditional Spanish forms and for the concert hall. He is often associated with the
zarzuela
() is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name o ...
, a traditional Spanish musical form. He achieved his greatest success in the 1930s with the zarzuelas ''
Luisa Fernanda
Luisa Fernanda is a former television entertainment news anchor, radio broadcaster, theatre and soap actress, singer and model. She was born on December 17th, 1970 in Mexico City. She worked for HSE in 2001 then Telemundo until the end of 2007. ...
'' (1932) and ''La Chulapona'' (1934). Directing several
opera
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
companies, Moreno Torroba helped introduce the
zarzuela
() is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name o ...
to international audiences. In 1946 he formed a zarzuela company with singers
Plácido Domingo Ferrer
Plácido Domingo Ferrer (8 March 1907 – 22 November 1987 ''The New York Times'' (AP), 26 November 1987.) was a and
Pepita Embil
Josefa Embil Echániz (Basque: ''Josefa Enbil Etxaniz''; February 28, 1918—August 28, 1994) better known as Pepita Embil was a Spanish Basque soprano who starred in zarzuela and operetta productions throughout Spain and Latin America. Known as ...
, the parents of
Plácido Domingo
José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...
and close friends of his. The company toured
Latin America
Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
for two years, becoming particularly popular in
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
. The composer who was identified from the beginning with the phalanx, to be on the national side. decided to go to America in 1946 to avoid the economic and food shortages of the postwar Spain.
Moreno Torroba also composed operas, of which ''La Virgen de Mayo'' (1925) and '' El poeta'' (1980) with Plácido Domingo in the title role, are his best known. In addition to his vocal works, he is well known for his compositions for the
classical guitar
The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...
, many of which were dedicated to either Maria Angélica Funes or
Andrés Segovia
Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña (21 February 1893 – 2 June 1987), was a Spanish virtuoso classical guitarist. Many professional classical guitarists were either students of Segovia or students of Segovia's students.
Segovia ...
. Although he did not play the guitar himself he had a deep understanding of the instrument, according to the virtuoso Pepe Romero. He also frequently conducted.
Torroba is also the composer of '' Cuban Boy'', the
Frank Chacksfield
Francis Charles Chacksfield (9 May 1914 – 9 June 1995) was an English pianist, organist, composer, arranger, and conductor of popular light orchestral easy listening music, who had great success in Britain and internationally in the 1950s and ...
recorded version of which is known as the theme tune for the BBC Scotland comedy show ''
Still Game
''Still Game'' is a Scotland, Scottish sitcom produced by Effingee Productions, The Comedy Unit and BBC Scotland. It was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who played the lead characters, Jack Jarvis (Still Game character), Jack Jarvis, ...
''.
Works
Operas
*''La Virgen de Mayo'', 1 act (1925)
*'' El poeta'', 4 acts (1980)
Luisa Fernanda
Luisa Fernanda is a former television entertainment news anchor, radio broadcaster, theatre and soap actress, singer and model. She was born on December 17th, 1970 in Mexico City. She worked for HSE in 2001 then Telemundo until the end of 2007. ...
*''Fantasía de Levante'' (1957)
*''Don Quixote'' (1970)
*''El Hijo pródigo'' (1976)
*''Cristo, luz del mundo'' (1978)
Orchestral works
(see below for works with guitar)
*''La Ajorca de oro'' (1918)
*''Zoraida'' (1919)
*''Suite madrileña'' (1953)
*''Mosaico sevillano'' (1954)
*''Aires vascos'' (1956)
*''Danzas asturianas'' (1956)
*''San Fermín'' (1960)
*''Eritaña'' (1979)
*''Sonatina trianera'' (1980)
*''Fantasía castellana'' (1980) for piano and orchestra
Sigüenza
Sigüenza () is a city in the La Serranía, Serranía de Guadalajara Comarcas of Castile-La Mancha, comarca, Province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.
History
The site of the ancient ''Segontia'' ('dominating over the valley') of the C ...
,
Manzanares el Real
Manzanares el Real is a town in the north of the autonomous Community of Madrid. It is located at the foot of La Pedriza, a part of the Sierra de Guadarrama, and next to the ''embalse de Santillana'' (the Santillana reservoir). In 2020, the town h ...
,
Alba de Tormes
Alba de Tormes is a municipality in the province of Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. The town is on the River Tormes upstream from the city of Salamanca. Alba gave its name to one of Spain's most ...
,
Montemayor
Montemayor is a city located in the province of Córdoba, Spain. According to the 2006 census ( INE), the city has a population of 3,936 inhabitants.
See also
* List of municipalities in Córdoba
Córdoba is a province in the autonomous c ...
(Romance de los Pinos),
Alcañiz
Alcañiz () is a town and municipality of Teruel province in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. The town is located on the banks of the river Guadalope. Alcañiz is the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon historical region. It lies ...
Torija
Torija is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating po ...
,
Simancas
Simancas is a town and municipality of central Spain, located in the province of Valladolid, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated approximately 10 km southwest of the provincial capital Valladolid, on the r ...
,
Zafra
Zafra (; ) is a town in the Province of Badajoz (Extremadura, Spain), and the capital of the comarca of Zafra - Río Bodión. It has a population of 16,677, according to the 2011 census.
Zafra is the hometown of Fray Ruy Lopez, author of one of ...
,
Turégano
Turégano is a village and municipality of Spain located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León. As of 2019 it has a population of 979 inhabitants. The municipality has a total area of 70,78 km2. The Castle of Turégano
The Castle of Tur ...
Alcázar de Segovia
An ''alcázar'', from Arabic ''al-Qasr'', is a type of Islamic castle or palace in Spain built during Al-Andalus, Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries. They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout ...
,
Olite
Erriberri (''Olite'' in spanish) is a town and municipality located in the Tafalla comarca, Erriberri merindad, in Navarre, Basque Country.
History
According to Isidore of Seville's ''Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum'', th ...
, Calatrava.
*''Tríptico'' (1973)
*''Las Puertas de Madrid'' (1976). Contains: ''Puerta de San Vicente''; ''Puerta de Moros''; ''Puerta de Toledo''; ''Puerta de Alcalá''; ''Puerta del Ángel''; ''Puerta Cerrada''; ''Puerta de Hierro''.
*''Aires de
La Mancha
La Mancha () is a natural region, natural and historical region in the provinces of Spain, Spanish provinces of province of Albacete, Albacete, province of Cuenca, Cuenca, province of Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real and province of Toledo, Toledo. It ...
''
*''Madroños''
*''Serenata Burlesca''
*''Siete Piezas de Álbum''. Contains: ''Chisperada''; ''Rumor de Copla''; ''Minueto del Majo''; ''¡Ay, Malagueña!''; ''Aire Vasco''; ''Segoviana''; ''Bolero Menorquín''.
*''Sonatina y variación in E minor''
*''Suite miniatura''. Contains: ''Llamada''; ''Tremolo''; ''Vals''; ''Divertimento''.
Guitar with orchestra
*''Concerto de Castilla'' (1960)
*''Homenaje a la seguidilla'' (1962)
*''Tres nocturnos'' (1970)
*''Concerto ibérico'' (1976)
*''Diálogos'' (1977)
Guitar quartets
*''Ráfagas'' (1976)
*''Estampas'' (1979)
*''Sonata-Fantasía II'' (1976)
*''Sonata trianera'' (1980)
Recordings with Moreno Torroba as conductor or performer
LP
*Mosaico Andaluz – Orquesta De Conciertos De Madrid, Director y arreglador F. Moreno Torroba (Sello Hispavox, Año 1958. 45 R.P.M.)
*Recordando El Ayer – Orquesta Federico Moreno Torroba (1961)
*La Voz de su Amo – Isabel Rivas, Luis Sagi-Vela, Tino Pardo, Ramón Alonso, Rosa Sarmiento, Mari Carmen Ramírez, Matilde Garcés, Enrique del Portal, Luis Frutos, Ana M.ª Amengual. Coro Cantores de Madrid, dir.: José Perera. Orquesta Lírica Española, dir.: Federico Moreno Torroba. (1968)
*Federico Moreno Torroba – Banda De Pasodobles De Madrid – Lp Pasodobles Toretos – RCA 1958
*Ultimos Exitos De Lola Flores. Acompañada Por F. Moreno Torroba Y Su Orquestra
*Luisa Fernanda – Moreno Torroba
*Corrida De Toros Con Oles
*María ManuelaMaría Manuela /ref>
*Moreno Torroba: Homenaje A La Seguidilla c/w Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Guitar Concerto In D, Op. 99. Ángel Romero, ECO, Federico Moreno Torroba. EMI: ASD 4171.