Sebasti�n Dur�n was, together with Antonio de Literes, the greatest Spanish composer of stage music of his time. He served as organist and choirmaster at various cathedrals (Seville, Cuenca, El Burgo de Osma, Plasencia) until in 1691 he was appointed master of the Royal Chapel of King Charles II in Madrid. He remained in this position until 1706, when he was suspended because of expressing support for the Archduke Charles of Austria during the War of Spanish Succession, which ended with the victory of�the�Bourbon King Philip V. Dur�n was forced into exile in France. He died in 1716 at Cambo-les-Bains, Aquitaine (France). Although Dur�n composed many sacred pieces, his main output was repertoire for the stage, mostly zarzuelas. On occasion of the 300th anniversary of Duron's death in 1716, Rog�rio Con�alves and his ensemble A Corte Musical, joined by the Spanish soprano Eva Ju�rez, present on this CD a fine selection of arias taken from his zarzuelas. The pieces show great originality and dramatic quality and confirm Dur�n as one of the most important Spanish composers of stage music of all times.