"Zarzuela"

Question

Right, it can be an operetta, a catalan lyric theatre show and a fish stew. But, does anybody know the term as a political reference, perhaps a sarcastic "operetta" analogy?

Here's why I'm asking, (we are in Spain during the transition years where power is moving out of Franco's hands and, quite quickly, via his cohorts, towards what will eventually become Spanish democracy essentially thanks to Juan Carlos) This is a contemporary article"

Es altamente revelador que haya sido Fernández-Miranda el propiciador de esa maniobra política para obligar a las Cortes a responder a las propuestas reformistas del Gobierno con la rapidez que este momento demanda y quiere la Zarzuela

I'm not optomistic but this phrase has me puzzled. I can give more context if required.

Thanks for any help.

• I think Zarzuela is a reference to the "royal palace" in this context. See my long-winded post below. - Janice Oct 17, 2010

Answer 1

I came across this word in La sombra del viento which I am working my way through page by page - It´s slow-going. Every page just has more new words on it! "Zarzuela has appeared on pages 132 and 229 thus far, once capitalized, once not.

--Además, el profesor Velázquez es amigo de mi padre. Están los dos en el Consejo de la Asociación para la Protección y Fomento de la Zarzuela y la Lírica Española.

The second:

--Mi padre se ha plantado en el comedor a leer el ABC y a escuchar zarzuelas en la radio a todo volumen. En el entreacto de Luisa Fernanda he tenido que salir porque me volvía loco.

But it cannot refer alone to a kind of Spanish light opera because -- according to my Harper Collins -- the word can mean a kind of seafood casserole in Spain.

There is a Palacio de la Zarzuela! - It is the royal palace in Madrid. In fact, this operetta form is called zarzuela (again according to my dictionary) due to the fact that this kind of entertainment was first performed in the 17th century for Philip IV.

A zaruela has stock characters, traditional scenes and a mixture of dialog, music and traditional song.

One interesting point with regard to politics: it supposedly declined in popularity in the 18 century. But interest was "rekindled" in the 19th as part of the revival of Spanish nationalism.

Answer 2

Palacio de la Zarzuela is also the residence of King Juan Carlos. Could this have something to do with it?

Answer 3

I have memories of Zarzuela from several years ago and it is amazing!

zarzuela de maricus

• ohhhhhhh, lovely! - Birdland Oct 17, 2010
• Ok, my lovely girl, how about the receipt?? I am now hankering after it . - ray76 Oct 18, 2010
• Oh and it is worth a vote miss Kitty. - ray76 Oct 18, 2010

Answer 4

Here's another, couldn't resist! What makes it taste really good is Pimenton de la vera. The smoked dulce paprika in the sauce enhancing the fishiness. Ahhhhhh.

Answer 5

The reference in the initial post about "la Zarzuela" is obviously a reference to the "Palacio de la Zarzuela", which in itself is a reference to the king Juan Carlos I. The king had a lot of influence on the political affairs of post-Franco Spain, as head of state, so references to "la Zarzuela" could be translated as references to the king and his closest advisors. Nowadays the king is just a symbolic figure, and references to "la Zarzuela" are limited to royal protocol, gossiping, etc.. and almost nothing about politics, except for the controversy about the continued existence of the monarchy itself.

The paragraph says that it was very revealing that the late (Torcuato) Fernández-Miranda (a high ranking politician during Franco's regime and the immediate years after his death) was the key person behind a political maneuver to force the parlament to respond quickly to the Government's reform agenda; something desired by the king.

• Yes I'm coming round to that approach it could be similar to a reference to Chequers. thanks - Birdland Oct 18, 2010

Answer 6

Palacio de la Zarzuela is also the residence of King Juan Carlos. Could this have something to do with it?

So it is! Not sure that it works here but I should have remembered that, thanks. You've got me playing with it though, I wonder....

Answer 7

Janice, Very interesting, I know that the Catalans "appropriated" the Zarzuela in a way, emphasising la Lírica element so that's probably the first ref. Obviously that's what he's listening to "a todo volumen".

I suppose those details are being used by Zafón to give the right atmosphere of the time. Oh, and if you ever go to a good seafood restaurant in Barcelona order Zarzuela, it's heavenly. Back when i lived there, (maybe 15 years ago) Les Set Portes down by the waterfront used to do a great Zarzuela.

Great book to read in Spanish by the way