Grétry and the Growth of Opéra-comique

First published in 1986, this major study in English explores Grétry and opéra-comique between 1768 and 1791.

David Charlton (Author)

9780521158817, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 July 2011

384 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.56 kg

Originally published in 1986, this book is a major study in English on Grétry and opéra-comique. Opéra-comique is the operatic genre that lies behind The Magic Flute and Fidelio. David Charlton's important study examines the genre in the period before the French Revolution, considering the literary sources, performance conditions, contemporary aesthetic criteria and statistics which reveal the popularity of such works at that time. Dr Charlton takes Grétry, composer of some thirty-four opéras-comiques, and a fascinating personality of his day, as the central figure of his study, drawing on Grétry's extensive Mémoires and other writing, not available in English translation, for the biographical sections. Twenty-four of Grétry's opéras-comiques are given a chapter each, with plot summary, critical discussion, summary of different versions and history of performance in Paris. The book can thus be used as a reference tool or read as a comprehensive survey of opéra-comique between 1768 and 1791.

List of illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Part I: 1. Introduction
2. Profile I: from Liège to Paris
3. Le Huron
4. Lucile
5. Le tableau parlant
6. Silvain
7. Profile II: the popular composer
8. Les deux avares
9. L'amitié à Pépreuve, 2-act version
10. L'ami de la maison
11. The overture (1)
12. Zémire te Azor
Part II: 13. Le Magnifique
14. La Rosière de Salency
15. The entr'acte (1)
16. La fausse magie
17. Les mariages sammites
18. Profile III: at home and abroad
19. Matroco
20. Le jugement de Midas
21. L'amant jaloux
22. Les événements imprévus
23. The overture (2)
24. Aucassin et Nicolette
25. Profile IV: Grétry at the Opéra
26. Opéra-comique in the 1780s
27. L'épruve villageoise
28. Richard Coeur-de-lion
29. L'amitié à Pépreuve, 3-act version
30. Les méprises par ressemblance
31. Le Comte d'Albert
32. Confident rivals
33. Raoul Barbe-bleue
34. Pierre le Grand
35. The entr'acte (2) and overture (3)
36. Guillaume Tell: conclusions
Notes
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Opera [AVGC9]