De gira por España. Prácticas y estrategias de los virtuosos que actuaron en los primeros conciertos públicos de Madrid (1767-1808)

Abstract

The introduction of concerts to the variety of public entertainment on offer in large cities was a cultural, social and economic phenomenon of a transnational nature that began in the eighteenth century and was consolidated throughout the nineteenth century. For this reason, the early public concerts organised in Spain presented almost identical repertories, production systems and formats of performance to those that were organised in the great musical centres of the time, principally Paris, Vienna and London. On this basis, this article describes the rise of the public concert through the practices and strategies of the travelling virtuosi who performed in Madrid. In particular, it analyses the cases of Antonio Lolli, Michael Esser, Agostina Lhoest, Luigia Gerbini, Pierre Rode and Bernhard Romberg, internationally renowned soloists who chose Spain as a destination on some of their tours.