Carlos Fernández Shaw
Carlos Fernández Shaw (23 September 1865 – 7 June 1911) was a Spanish poet, playwright, and journalist. He wrote the texts for many
zarzuelas, including ''
La revoltosa'', ''La chavala'' and ''
Las bravías'', all in collaboration with
José López Silva and with music by
Ruperto Chapí. He also wrote the libretto for Chapí's through-written
opera ''
Margarita la tornera''. He later wrote the libretto for ''
La vida breve'' by
Manuel de Falla, based on his tragic poem of gypsy life ''La chavalilla'' and drawing on ideas from ''La chavala''. He wrote articles for ''
La epoca'', ''
La illustración'' and ''
El correo''. He was also among the contributors of the Madrid-based avant-garde magazine ''
Prometeo''.
Fernández Shaw was born in
Cádiz, the son of a Spanish father and an English mother. He was the father of the equally successful playwright and librettist
Guillermo Fernández Shaw; while his grandson (also named Carlos Fernández Shaw) was a Spanish Consul General to the United States in the late 20th century, where he co-authored the book ''The Hispanic Presence in North America''. He died in
Madrid, aged 45.
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