 In 1872, Bretón received the first prize for composition at the Conservatory, together with Ruperto Chapi.After having worked in small theaters for several years, in 1882 he received a grant from the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando which enabled him to study in Rome, Milan, Vienna and Paris between 1881 and 1884.There, he found time to work on more ambitious works, such the oratorio "El Apocalipsis" and the opera "Los amantes de Teruel".