''Silvain'' (spelt ''Sylvain'' in the 1771 libretto) is a one-act '' opéra-comique'' by

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 ...

with a libretto by Jean-François Marmontel. It was first performed at the Comédie-Italienne (the Opéra Comique) on 19 February 1770 and was one of Grétry's biggest early successes. The plot concerns Silvain, who works as a poor farmer after being disinherited by his rich father for marrying a lower-class woman. The pastoral theme and its celebration of rural life was common in ''opéra-comique'' of the time but Marmontel's libretto goes much further in advocating social equality and defending the rights of peasants against the encroachment of landowners.

Background

Marmontel's chief source was ''Erast'', a one-act play by the Swiss writer

Salomon Gessner Salomon Gessner (1730–1788) was a Swiss painter, graphic artist, government official, newspaper publisher and poet; best known in the latter instance for his ''Idylls''. Biography His father, Hans Konrad Gessner (1696–1775), was a printer, ...

, who enjoyed a considerable European vogue at the time. Erast is an impoverished mountain farmer whose servant Simon decides to "rob the rich to pay the poor" and feed his master's and other destitute families. Erast orders Simon to return the money to the wealthy traveller he has waylaid. It emerges that the traveller is Erast's father who is searching for the son he disinherited long ago for marrying beneath him and now regrets his decision. Marmontel changed the focus to deal with an issue of great contemporary relevance in

Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for "ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for ...

France, the question of peasants' traditional rights to use land. These rights included grazing on common land, collecting wood for fuel and gathering stubble after the harvest. French peasants' livelihoods were often so precarious that they were dependent on such rights to avoid complete destitution. According to

Melchior Grimm Friedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm (26 September 172319 December 1807) was a German-born French-language journalist, art critic, diplomat and contributor to the ''Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers'' ...

, some of the aristocratic members among the early audiences of ''Silvain'' objected to what they saw as its preaching of social equality. The

Duc de Noailles The title of Duke of Noailles was a French peerage created in 1663 for Anne de Noailles, Count of Ayen. History Noailles is the name of a prominent French noble family, derived from the castle of Noailles in the territory of Ayen, between Briv ...

is said to have exclaimed that the opera's message was that he should marry his servant girl and let his peasants poach.

Performance history

''Silvain'' was one of the most popular of Grétry's early operas. It enjoyed 381 performances at the Opéra Comique between 1770 and 1827. In 1796 ''Silvain'' became the first recorded opera to be performed in New Orleans. Loewenberg lists productions in the Low Countries, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Russia up to 1800.Loewenburg, p. 309

Roles

Synopsis

''Scene: in front of a peasant's house, behind which is a small wood.'' Fifteen years earlier, the noble Silvain disobeyed the wishes of his father Dolmon by marrying a lower-class woman, Hélène. Dolmon disinherited his son, who now earns his living as a humble farmer. When the gamekeepers of the new local landowner accuse Silvain of poaching, Silvain's wife and daughters plead for mercy. Silvain enters and recognises the landowner as his own father. Dolmon relents and the family is at last reconciled.

Recordings

The opera has not been recorded complete. The overture appears on ''Grétry: Suites and Overtures'', Orchestre de Bretagne, conducted by Stefan Sanderling (ASV, 2001).

Christiane Karg Christiane Karg (born 6 August 1980) is a German operatic soprano. The award-winning singer became known for performing Mozart roles at the Salzburg Festival, and made an international career. Career Born in Feuchtwangen, Bavaria, Karg studied ...

sings the aria ''Il va venir! ... Pardonne, o mon juge'' on the album ''Amoretti'' (Berlin Classics, 2013).

References

Sources

Period sources

*Original libretto: ''Silvain, Comédie en un Acte, Meslée d'Ariettes; par M. Marmontel, de l'Académie Française'', Paris, Merlin, 1770 (accessible for free online at th
Library of Congress
*Period libretto: ''Sylvain, Comédie en un acte, mêlée d'ariettes'', Paris, Comédie Italienne, 1771 (accessibile for free online a
Internet Archive
*Period printed score: ''Silvain Comédie en un acte et en verses, Dédiée à son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Prince Charles de Pologne, Duc de Saxe, de Curlande et de Senigalle'', Paris Dezauche, s.d. (accessible for free online a
Internet Archive

Modern 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) * Alfred Loewenberg ''Annals of Opera 1597-1940'' (Third edition, Calder, 1978) {{authority control Opéras comiques French-language operas Operas by André Grétry Operas 1770 operas One-act operas