What is zarzuela? It has been said that it means to Spain what operatta means to Vienna, Offenbach to Paris, Gilbert and Sullivan to London, and the musical to Broadway. It is all these things and more: Spain's unique contribution to the lyric theatre, a mixture of spoken and sung drama with a complex history extending back more than four centuries.<BR>The Zarzuela Companion is a comprehensive guide to the riches of this extraordinarily colorful form of musical theatre. Chapters are devoted to the major Spanish zarzuela composers, writers, and singers, and there are synopses of the most popular romantic zarzuelas themselves. There are sections on the history of the genre and on the parallel Catalan and Cuban zarzuela traditions. A foreword by Placido Domingo, a glossary, discography, and a bibliography make this book indispensable for the newcomer and aficionado alike.