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Ruperto Chapí, composer of Villena

Villena, L'Alt Vinalopó, Alicante

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Ruperto Chapí, composer of Villena

Curiosity · Villena, L'Alt Vinalopó, Alicante

Villena was the birthplace of the composer Ruperto Chapí, born on 27 March 1851, in whose honour a music competition for young performers is held and after whom the municipal theatre is named. At only nine years old he joined the Música Nueva band, today Villena's municipal band, of which he became conductor at barely fifteen; he was much sought after to compose music for the Moors and Christians festivities of Villena and neighbouring towns. Among his best-known works are the zarzuelas La tempestad (1882), La bruja (1887), El rey que rabió (1891), El tambor de granaderos (1896), La Revoltosa (1897) and La patria chica (1907). Since 2003 his remains have rested in the Pantheon of the Illustrious in Villena's municipal cemetery, where there is also a monument dedicated to him.

Photo: Unknown author (Public domain)

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