Guillermo Fernández-Shaw

Guillermo Fernández-Shaw Iturralde was a Spanish poet and journalist. He is particularly known as a writer of libretti, primarily for zarzuelas. With Federico Romero, he wrote the libretti for two of the best-known zarzuelas of the 20th century, Doña Francisquita by Amadeo Vives and Luisa Fernanda by Federico Moreno Torroba. His father, Carlos Fernández Shaw, was also a playwright, poet and journalist who wrote libretti for several zarzuelas and operas, most famously Margarita la tornera and La vida breve. Guillermo Fernández-Shaw was born in Cádiz and initially trained as a lawyer before becoming a journalist. He was the editor of the Spanish newspaper La Epoca from 1911 to 1936, and a contributor to ABC as well as writing poetry for Blanco y Negro. His partnership with Federico Romero began in 1916 with their libretto for Serrano's La canción del olvido. Guillermo Fernández-Shaw died in Madrid on 17 August 1965 at the age of 72.

Libretti

Guillermo Fernández-Shaw wrote over 70 libretti in collaboration with Federico Romero, including:

1916. La canción del olvido by José Serrano
1923. Doña Francisquita by Amadeu Vives
1923. El dictador by Rafael Millán Picazo
1926. El caserío by Jesús Guridi
1927. La villana by Amadeu Vives
1928. La meiga by Jesús Guridi
1930. La rosa del azafrán by Jacinto Guerrero
1932. Luisa Fernanda by Federico Moreno Torroba
1934. La chulapona by Federico Moreno Torroba
1936. La tabernera del puerto by Pablo Sorozábal
1939. La malquerida by Conrado del Campo

In 1941 Guillermo worked with his brother Rafael Fernández Shaw on Torroba's Maria Manuela. Following Guillermo's feud with Federico Romero, which ultimately ended their artistic partnership, the two brothers then became regular collaborators, producing:

1947. Un día de primavera by Jesús Romo
1949. La duquesa del Candil by Jesús García Leoz
1951 La lola se va a los puertos by Ángel Barrios
1951. El canastillo de fresas by Jacinto Guerrero
1953. El gaitero de Gijón by Jesús Romo