Abstract
This Essay comprehensively examines the aesthetic foundations of French opera with spoken dialogue in its later eighteenth-century form. The sources discussed include writings by Voltaire, Sedaine, critics on the 'Mercure de France', Melchior Grimm, A. F. Quétant (a librettist), Marmontel and Contant d'Orville. Various operas are adduced in describing contemporary discussion of what kind of direction the new genre should take, especially regarding tone and subject-matter. Specific arias, duets and ensembles are referred to in order to illuminate Grétry's phrase 'L'Art dramatico-musical' (1794). The final section discusses language and music in the solo aria, or ariette, and takes in Diderot's 'animal cry of passion' section in 'Le Neveu de Rameau', which discusses word-setting, interpreting his words in the light of specific declamatory developments in opéra-comique, sometimes using texts with very few syllables per line. The significance of using sonata form in arias is also raised, especially relative to the problem of text-repetition, which went against French tradition. Grétry's creation of a personal melodic style is illustrated from 'Lucile'.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Music and Theatre |
| Subtitle of host publication | Essays in honour of Winton Dean |
| Editors | Nigel Fortune |
| Place of Publication | Cambridge |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Pages | 229-62 |
| Number of pages | 34 |
| ISBN (Print) | 0521323487 |
| Publication status | Published - 1987 |
Keywords
- France, opera, 18th century, opéra-comique, aesthetics, Grétry, Duni, Sedaine, Marmontel