José María Ponce de León

After writing his first opera at the age of 17, Ponce de León was sent to the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied with Gounod. Succesful in his day, his works are, unfortunately, very difficult to hear anymore.

Operas

• Un alcalde a la antigua y dos primos a la moderna (17 December 1863, Bogotá). Opera in 2 acts, J. M. Samper.
• Ester (2 July 1874, Bogotá). Opera in 3 acts, M. Briceño & R. Pombo.
• El castillo misterioso o La cinta encarnada (27 April 1876, Bogotá). 3 act zarzuela, J.M. Gutiérrez de Alba.
• Florinda (22 November 1880, Bogotá). Opera in 4 acts, R. Pombo.

contributed by Robert Martindale