Joaquín Espín y Guillén

Joaquín Espín y Guillén (3 May 1812, Velilla de Medinaceli, Soria – 24 June 1882, Madrid) was a Spanish composer and musician.

[2] After returning from France Espín passed the examination as organist in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and in 1833 moved to Madrid to continue his studies entering the Royal Conservatory of Music and Declamation.

[2] The couple had four children: Joaquín who became a well-known conductor, Julia who became a prima donna and a muse of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, as well as less known Josefina and Ernestina.

[1] In October 1847, Espín founded an association Círculo Filarmónico that offered an alternative musical training to that of the Madrid Conservatory.

[5] From 1851 to 1855, Espín collaborated with Ramón Mesonero Romanos and Pedro Madrano writing articles on music for Modern Encyclopedia at the initiative of Francisco de Paula Mellado.

[2] Espín wrote his first zarzuela Carlos Broschi that was premiered in the San Fernando Theater in Seville on 12 February 1854 and was staged until 1856.