Tonadillas de Luis Misón

In May we present a concert-performance dedicated to the tonadillas of Luis Misón, an essential figure in shaping Spanish musical theatre of the eighteenth century. 30pm in the Sala de Cámara of the Auditorio Nacional de Música.

The tonadilla escénica was one of the most characteristic genres of Spanish theatrical life in the second half of the eighteenth century: a brief, lively and deeply communicative form, sitting between music, words and staging.

Born in the milieu of the Madrid coliseos, it combined popular charm, dramatic agility and a notable capacity to portray types, feelings and everyday situations.

The tonadilla evolved from a short song associated with sainetes and dances into a stage genre with different vocal numbers and characters. In this context, Luis Misón holds a place of particular importance.

A flautist, oboist and composer connected with Madrid's musical life, Misón was recognised by his contemporaries as a creator of singular theatrical talent.

Several studies place around 1757–1758 the start of his decisive contribution to the development of the tonadilla escénica, with works that helped consolidate this genre as one of the most representative expressions of eighteenth-century Spanish musical theatre.

The concert-performance format will allow the recovery of the stage nature of these pieces, conceived to be experienced as small musical scenes.

In them coexist the elegance of eighteenth-century language, the pulse of popular theatre, the wit of the sung text and a direct expressiveness, able to connect with today's audience through freshness, humour and dramatic vitality.