For years, the composers Federico Chueca and Joaquín Valverde collaborated creating several zarzuelas and sainetes (short sketches) from the popular music style known as género chico.
This zarzuela in one act and five scenes, with original text by Felipe Pérez González, was premiered in the Felipe Theatre in Madrid on 2 July 1886. It is a group of five short sainetes that revolve around a current affair: the demolition of old buildings to open up a new avenue, which would end up being the Gran Vía in Madrid.
In this sense, this zarzuela intends to be a contemporary and choral portrait of Madrid at the time. The performances were very successful over the years and new scenes were added which showed current affairs - because it was actually an adaptation of the so-called "current affairs magazine" to the género chico. This way, memorable performances emerged such as "En la calle de Alcalá" or "El bazar de juguetes".
