La identidad lírica de Conrado del Campo en los retablos de Víctor Espinós

Abstract

The few studies that have been published to date about Conrado del Campo have highlighted his great temperament for theatre music, a quality that is reflected in his large catalogue with more than 25 works, including operas, zarzuelas and other genres for the stage. This study examines the composer’s theatre music, considering the works he composed for Victor Espinós’ retablos between 1927 and 1930: Antaño o un corpus viejo en Madrid (1927), El cielo y Madrid se casan (1928), El retablo de fray Luis (1928) y El retablo de los remedios (1930). Using topic theory, these works will be analysed to show some of the compositional practices Del Campo trialled at this point of his life in order to reflect his conception of the Spanish operatic identity within a genre as peculiar as the musical retablo.