i have been using essence 1st generation with google chrome cast since Spotify stopped supporting essence. I have a problem that is going on for a while , maybe always has been, which is that the music starts playing, then stops and the Spotify app seems to be disconnected and the re connects. Once this happens I can use Spotify fine. 

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

i think it could be that the speakers (Beolab 17) need to become active. 

Do you know how to activate the speakers and then start Spotify?

Thanks for your advice