''Lucile'' is an

opéra comique ''Opéra comique'' (; plural: ''opéras comiques'') is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged from the popular '' opéras comiques en vaudevilles'' of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent (and to a l ...

, described as a ''

comédie mêlée d'ariettes The French term ''comédie mêlée d'ariettes'' ('comedy mixed with little songs') was frequently used during the late ''ancien régime'' for certain types of '' opéra comique'' (French opera with spoken dialogue). The term became popular in th ...

'', in one act by the composer

André Grétry André Ernest Modeste Grétry (; baptised 11 February 1741; died 24 September 1813) was a composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (present-day Belgium), who worked from 1767 onwards in France and took French nationality. He is most famous ...

, It was first performed at the

Comédie-Italienne Comédie-Italienne or Théâtre-Italien are French names which have been used to refer to Italian-language theatre and opera when performed in France. The earliest recorded visits by Italian players were commedia dell'arte companies employed b ...

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

on 5 January 1769. The French text is by

Jean-François Marmontel Jean-François Marmontel (11 July 1723 – 31 December 1799) was a French historian, writer and a member of the Encyclopédistes movement. Biography He was born of poor parents at Bort, Limousin (today in Corrèze). After studying with th ...

, and the characters in the opera, though not the actual story, were derived from "L'école des pères", one of Marmontel's ''Contes moraux'' ("Moral Tales"). The melody from "Où peut-on être mieux qu'au sein de sa famille?" was later reused in Vieuxtemps' Violin Concerto No. 5, Op.37.

Performance history

''Lucile'' was first performed at the

on 5 January 1769 and became Grétry's most popular opera during the following decade. By 1780 it had reached a total of 195 performances but it was less successful thereafter.Charlton, ''Grétry and the Growth of Opéra Comique'', p. 49

Roles

Synopsis

Lucile is enjoying a morning preparing for her wedding. She is joined by her fiancé young Dorval, her father Timante and Dorval's father. The celebrations are interrupted by the old peasant Blaise, who reveals that his wife has just confided a secret to him on her deathbed: she had been a wet nurse to Timante's child, but when the baby died she decided to hide the truth and exchange it for her own daughter to ensure a better future for the latter. The grown-up child is Lucile. Lucile's poor background means she can no longer marry the middle-class Dorval. However, Timante persuades Dorval's father to let the wedding go ahead regardless and the opera concludes with general rejoicing.

Recordings

*''Lucile'', arias et quartet, DUCHESNE Solistes de Liege, conducted by Emmanuel Koch Cat: DD 8026 *''Lucile'', soloists, Choeurs et Orchestre de l'Opera de Wallonie, conducted Roger Rossel Cat: MBM 28

References

Sources

* Michel Brenet ''Grétry: sa vie et ses œuvres'' (F. Hayez, 1884) * David Charlton ''Grétry and the Growth of Opéra Comique'' (Cambridge University Press, 1986) * Ronald Lessens ''Grétry ou Le triomphe de l'Opéra-Comique'' (L'Harmattan, 2007) * ''Lucile'' by David Charlton, in 'The

New Grove Dictionary of Opera ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'' is an encyclopedia of opera, considered to be one of the best general reference sources on the subject. It is the largest work on opera in English, and in its printed form, amounts to 5,448 pages in four volu ...

', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) {{authority control Comédies mêlées d'ariettes Opéras comiques Operas by André Grétry French-language operas Operas 1769 operas One-act operas