Barbiere, Francisco Asenjo

1823-1894

Spanish opera composer. Born in Madrid and studied the piano, singing and composition in the Conservatory there. After traveling as a member of an Italian opera company, through northern Spain.-he began composing in 1847, and became secretary of a society for the promotion of Spanish Opera, as opposed to Italian Opera and was for the rest of his life a zealous worker for the development of a national opera. In 1850 he produced an operetta, Gloria y Peluca, and in 1851, Jugar con Fuego, the first of his Spanish work. Both of these were wonderfully successful and established Barbiere as the most popular composer of Spain. He wrote in all about seventy-five operas and was beside a fine teacher and a musical critic of ability.