He personifies the origins of Spanish opera with the work Celos aun del aire matan (es) by the illustrious playwright Calderon de la Barca, based on the story of Cephalus and Procris told in Ovid's Metamorphoses, released on 5 December 1660 to celebrate the third birthday of prince Felipe Prospero.
His place in Spanish theatre history is equivalent to that of Henry Purcell in Britain and Lully in France.
He wrote music for at least nine allegorical religious plays that were performed in public for Corpus Christi.
His work for the court stages included songs for 16 spoken plays (comedias), many partly sung zarzuelas and semi-operas, and two full operas which are highly regarded.
[3] Composer Celia Torra based her choral composition Las campanas on a melody by Hidalgo.