Genovés, Thomás (EN)

Genovés Tomás, T. Genovés y Lapetra, *28 December 1805 Saragossa, †5 June 1861 Burgos, Spanish composer. He began his musical education in his native city, where he also sang in the boys’ choir at the cathedral La Seo. He later moved to Madrid, where in 1831 his first opera in the Italian style Enrique y Clotilde was staged, followed by the staging of the zarzuela El rapto in 1832. The opera enjoyed great success and Genovés received a scholarship from the city authorities, which enabled him to undertake musical studies in Italy. He spent 11 years there, composing several operas (all performed in Italy) as well as a number of instrumental works. In 1846 he returned to Spain; he composed stage works, romances and sacred music.

Genovés represents a current widespread in Spain in the first half of the 19th century of operatic music based on Italian models.