Amadeo Vives

Dónde va, dónde va la alegria

Amadeu Vives (1871 -1932) was a Spanish composer. Vives was born in Collbató, near Montserrat. He studied in Barcelona but he soon moved to Madrid, where he lived the rest of his life, first publishing a series of concert works, solo and much-loved choral songs before turning to the zarzuelas on which his fame rests. In 1923 he wrote the zarzuela 'Doña Francisquita'. It has easy lyricism, fluent orchestration and colourful evocation of 19th Century Madrid-not to mention its memorable vocal and choral writing. Without doubt the best known and loved of all his works, one of the few zarzuelas which has 'travelled' abroad. The choir 'Dónde va, dónde va la alegria... ' (Coro de Románticos) is one of the most beautiful parts from the zarzuela and now transcribed for Choir and Symphonic Band by José Javier Bascoy.