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Maestro Padilla
The composer, orchestra conductor and pianist Jose Padilla Sanchez, known as Maestro Padilla, is remembered as the author of well-known melodies such as Valencia, El Relicario and La Violetera. He wrote music for more than 300 films and his melodies were sung by international stars such as Barbara Streisand and Maurice Chevalier. They also formed part of the soundtracks of films by directors such as Ridley Scott and Woody Allen.
He was born in Almeria on 28 May 1889 and began his musical studies with Eugenio Lloret, director of the Marine Infantry Band, who saw in the young Padilla a diamond in the rough. At the age of 15 he left his hometown for Madrid to devote himself to the cultivation of his musical training, joining the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he obtained the best qualifications.
In Madrid, he became known for his prolific output: the pasodoble Relampaguito, the zarzuelas El Centurion and Mala Hembra, and the plays Socorro and La hija de Chispa, reflecting the quality and freshness of his compositions.
In 1910, he premiered Pajaritos y Flores at the prestigious Apolo Theater. From that year onwards, he frequented Barcelona, opening up to the world and travelling to America in 1915, preceded by the popularity and prestige obtained with the pasodobles El Relicario and La Violetera. He accumulated great achievements as an orchestra conductor in Argentina, alternating this work with the composition of tangos such as Porteñita and Vidalita.
Among his creations on subsequent trips to Argentina, the staging of the sainete El Taita del Arrabal stands out.
He returned to Madrid and composed Sinfonia Portuguesa. In 1934, he conducted the orchestra in the great presentation of the zarzuela La Bella Burlada at the New Theater in Barcelona.
In 1935, he composed Himno a Almeria and in 1944 a work dedicated to the memory of his parents.
On 26 August 1946, in Almeria, he conducted a group of three bands that performed Valencia and the Himno a Almeria. That month, he received a plaque from the Town Hall, declaring him Favourite Son of Almeria. In 1951, he composed the hymn Plegaria a la Virgen del Mar.
The production of Maestro Jose Padilla Sanchez reached 265 works, according to the records of the SGAE, the General Society of Authors and Publishers of Spain, comprising a wide range of musical genres: zarzuelas, operas and operettas; works for piano, orchestra and choir; music for accompaniment, of a religious nature; chamber music; music for soundtracks and shows; and several songs.
Jose Padilla Sanchez died in Madrid on 25 October 1960.
He was born in Almeria on 28 May 1889 and began his musical studies with Eugenio Lloret, director of the Marine Infantry Band, who saw in the young Padilla a diamond in the rough. At the age of 15 he left his hometown for Madrid to devote himself to the cultivation of his musical training, joining the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he obtained the best qualifications.
Jose Padilla Sanchez, a star
He always demonstrated his skill and talent in playing the piano and in his compositions. One of them, entitled Las Dos Palomas, was first performed in Almeria when he was 14, before travelling to the capital.In Madrid, he became known for his prolific output: the pasodoble Relampaguito, the zarzuelas El Centurion and Mala Hembra, and the plays Socorro and La hija de Chispa, reflecting the quality and freshness of his compositions.
In 1910, he premiered Pajaritos y Flores at the prestigious Apolo Theater. From that year onwards, he frequented Barcelona, opening up to the world and travelling to America in 1915, preceded by the popularity and prestige obtained with the pasodobles El Relicario and La Violetera. He accumulated great achievements as an orchestra conductor in Argentina, alternating this work with the composition of tangos such as Porteñita and Vidalita.
On his return to Europe, he established his residence in Barcelona. This became one of his most fruitful periods. In 1916, Jose Padilla Sanchez also premiered the zarzuela La Corte del Amor at the Comedy Theater and composed El Principe Cañamon and later Las Burladoras.
Later, he went to Paris, where he made friends with Carlos Gardel and Maurice Chevalier and where he was dazzled by the bohemian ambiances that exalted his creativity. He created the music for the famous pasodoble Valencia and later the piece Ça c'est Paris, which was presented in 1926.
Later, he went to Paris, where he made friends with Carlos Gardel and Maurice Chevalier and where he was dazzled by the bohemian ambiances that exalted his creativity. He created the music for the famous pasodoble Valencia and later the piece Ça c'est Paris, which was presented in 1926.
He returned to Madrid and composed Sinfonia Portuguesa. In 1934, he conducted the orchestra in the great presentation of the zarzuela La Bella Burlada at the New Theater in Barcelona.
In 1935, he composed Himno a Almeria and in 1944 a work dedicated to the memory of his parents.
On 26 August 1946, in Almeria, he conducted a group of three bands that performed Valencia and the Himno a Almeria. That month, he received a plaque from the Town Hall, declaring him Favourite Son of Almeria. In 1951, he composed the hymn Plegaria a la Virgen del Mar.
The production of Maestro Jose Padilla Sanchez reached 265 works, according to the records of the SGAE, the General Society of Authors and Publishers of Spain, comprising a wide range of musical genres: zarzuelas, operas and operettas; works for piano, orchestra and choir; music for accompaniment, of a religious nature; chamber music; music for soundtracks and shows; and several songs.
Jose Padilla Sanchez died in Madrid on 25 October 1960.
Activities in the province of Almeria
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