It premiered at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, Spain on 19 June 1980, starring Plácido Domingo, Ángeles Gulín, and Carmen Bustamante.
[2] Federico Moreno Torroba was one of the most prolific composers of Spanish zarzuelas and modern classical guitar music, but had only worked on operas early in his career.
[1] El poeta received its premiere on 19 June 1980 at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela, where Moreno Torroba had worked on many previous occasions.
[5] Domingo also believed the libretto to be "weak and superficial" and regretted that it failed to convey the real Espronceda's fascinating and profound life.
Unlike in zarzuelas, he wrote the opera as a through-composed piece without the interruptions of dialogue or distinct arias, duets, and ensembles.
[7] Spanish critic Antonio Fernández-Cid remarked on the noticeable influences of both Gershwin and Puccini in the opera's score and praised the composer for his subtle "tone color, harmony, structure, and use of solos and tuttis.
At the same time, she noted: "Vocal lines were full of melody and eminently singable, pacing was varied and orchestration thoroughly professional.