Ensayaron, y eso que faltaba el apuntador.

Here y eso que is a fixed expression that introduces a contrast, similar to:

• even though
• and that’s despite the fact that
• although

So Ensayaron, y eso que faltaba el apuntador means that they rehearsed despite the fact that the prompter was absent.

This expression is very common in spoken and written Spanish. It often adds a slight sense of surprise, like: they still did it, even under those circumstances.

This is a very common tense combination in Spanish.

• ensayaron = preterite
  This presents the rehearsal as a completed event.
• faltaba = imperfect
  This describes a background situation that was true at the time.

So the sentence is structured like:

• main event: they rehearsed
• background circumstance: the prompter was absent

Spanish often uses:

• preterite for what happened
• imperfect for the surrounding situation, condition, or ongoing state

Compare:

• Llegaron cuando llovía.
  They arrived when it was raining.
• Ensayaron, y eso que faltaba el apuntador.
  They rehearsed, even though the prompter was absent.

The subject is not stated explicitly, which is normal in Spanish.

Ensayaron is the 3rd person plural preterite of ensayar, so it means:

• they rehearsed
• or, depending on context, you all rehearsed in some varieties of Spanish

In standard European Spanish, the most natural reading without more context is they rehearsed.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already tells you the person and number.

Here faltar means something like:

• to be absent
• to be missing
• not to be there

So faltaba el apuntador means the prompter was absent / wasn’t there.

This is important because faltar can work in different ways depending on context. For example:

• Falta Juan.
  Juan is absent / Juan is missing.
• Me falta dinero.
  I’m short of money / I lack money.

In your sentence, el apuntador is the person who is absent, so el apuntador is the grammatical subject of faltaba.

In this context, el apuntador is a theatre prompter: the person who helps actors by quietly reminding them of their lines if needed.

So this is a theatre-related sentence.

Do not confuse this with other modern meanings that can appear in different contexts. Here, because of ensayaron (they rehearsed), the theatrical meaning is the natural one.

Both are grammatically possible, but faltaba el apuntador sounds more natural here.

Spanish often places the subject after the verb when:

• introducing information
• stating that someone/something was present or absent
• focusing on the situation rather than on the subject itself

So:

• faltaba el apuntador = the prompter was absent / missing

This word order sounds smooth and idiomatic in narrative Spanish.

If you say el apuntador faltaba, it is not wrong, but it may sound more marked or less natural in this context.

Yes, in many situations you could use aunque, but the tone is slightly different.

For example:

• Ensayaron, aunque faltaba el apuntador.

This is perfectly understandable and grammatical.

But y eso que is a bit more idiomatic and often adds a stronger sense of:

• surprise
• concession
• “despite that”

So:

• aunque = neutral although / even though
• y eso que = more like and that despite the fact that...

In this sentence, y eso que feels especially natural because it highlights that rehearsing under those conditions was somewhat unexpected.

The comma separates the main statement from the added concessive comment.

Structure:

• Ensayaron = main clause
• y eso que faltaba el apuntador = added contrasting information

The comma helps show that the second part is almost like an afterthought or explanatory remark:

• They rehearsed, and that’s despite the fact that the prompter was absent.

In writing, this punctuation is very common with y eso que.

The definite article el suggests that the speaker and listener both know which prompter is being referred to.

In context, this is probably:

• the prompter of that production
• the expected, specific person in the rehearsal

Using un apuntador would sound more like:

• some prompter
• an unspecified prompter

But in a rehearsal setting, the prompter is usually a known role, so el apuntador is the natural choice.

No. Ensayar is broader than that.

It can mean:

• to rehearse a play, concert, speech, etc.
• to practise
• sometimes to try out or test

Examples:

• La banda ensaya los martes.
  The band rehearses on Tuesdays.
• Ensayé mi presentación.
  I rehearsed my presentation.
• Vamos a ensayar otro método.
  Let’s try another method.

In your sentence, because of el apuntador, the theatrical sense is the one that fits best.