Antonio García Gutiérrez

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Lore & Background

Born on 5 July 1813, García Gutiérrez studied medicine in his native town before moving to Madrid in 1833. There he earned a meager living translating plays by Eugène Scribe and Alexandre Dumas, père. Lacking success, he was on the point of enlisting when he suddenly sprang into fame as the author of *El trovador*, played for the first time on 1 March 1836. His next great success was *Simón Bocanegra* in 1843. Although recognized as one of the leaders of the Romantic movement in Spain, his plays were not immediately lucrative, and he emigrated to Spanish America, working as a journalist in Cuba and Mexico until 1850, when he returned to Spain. After his return, he became known all over Europe through Giuseppe Verdi's opera *Il trovatore* (1853), adapted from *El trovador*. Verdi then adapted *Simón Bocanegra* into the opera *Simon Boccanegra* (1857). His later works include the zarzuela *El grumete* (1853), *La venganza catalana* (1864), and *Juan Lorenzo* (1865). He became head of the archaeological museum at Madrid, the city where he died on 6 August 1884.

Reader's Guide

Antonio García Gutiérrez holds a leading position among Spanish dramatists of the 19th century, recognized as one of the leaders of the Romantic movement in Spain. His play *El trovador*, premiering on 1 March 1836, brought him sudden fame and later became the source for Giuseppe Verdi's opera *Il trovatore* (1853), making him known all over Europe. His next great success, *Simón Bocanegra* (1843), was also adapted by Verdi into *Simon Boccanegra* (1857). While his poetry volumes *Poesías* (1840) and *Luz y tinieblas* (1842) are considered comparatively minor, his plays are praised for their versification and his power of analysing feminine emotions. His career included a period of emigration to Spanish America, where he worked as a journalist in Cuba and Mexico until 1850. After returning to Spain, he continued writing, producing the zarzuela *El grumete* (1853), *La venganza catalana* (1864), and *Juan Lorenzo* (1865). He later became head of the archaeological museum at Madrid.

Did You Know?

• García Gutiérrez studied medicine in his native town before moving to Madrid in 1833.
• He earned a meager living translating plays by Eugène Scribe and Alexandre Dumas, père.
• He was on the point of enlisting when *El trovador* premiered on 1 March 1836 and brought him sudden fame.
• He emigrated to Spanish America and worked as a journalist in Cuba and Mexico until 1850.
• He became head of the archaeological museum at Madrid, where he died.