He won the scholarship singing Spirto gentil . I distinguished Gayarre for his willpower. When he set out to achieve something, he was of unlimited constancy and firmness. His singing teacher at the Conservatory was Lázaro Mara Puig. Gayarre took advantage of his advice and lessons, as well as those of D. Hilari n Eslava, whom he frequented, to great fruition. In Madrid he met the young Navarrese pianist Pepe Gainza . It was he who organized Gayarre's debut at the Tudela festivities, singing the zarzuela Luz y Sombra . Encouraged by the economic success, they went to Zaragoza, where the disaster occurred.
Gayarre arrived in Madrid hidden in a third-class carriage. The revolution of September 1868 abolished the Conservatory scholarships. Without resources, he was left on the street, and could not turn to D. Hilari n Eslava who lived in poverty. His liberal ideas led him to act on the Republican side in the elections. He was a speaker and was imprisoned in the Saladero prison.
Faced with his bad situation, he returned to Pamplona. It seemed that a powerful hand forced him to resume the long path of sacrifice that would lead him to success and glory. The first hour protectors, Conrado Garc ay Joaqu n Maya, would be the architects of this recovery. They organized two concerts where Gayarre performed with local singers. Great triumph and economic success.
The Navarre Provincial Council granted him one thousand pesetas for his studies in Italy in 1869. Before leaving, he sent two thousand reales to help his family in Roncal. He arrived in Milan on May 25, 1869.
MEL