André Grétry
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André Ernest Modeste Grétry was a
composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, who worked from 1767 onwards in France and took French nationality. He is most famous for his opéras comiques.
Portrait by Vigée Le Brun, 1785
Plaque in memory of André Grétry, 29-31 Grand Rue, Geneva.
Grétry wearing his medal from the Légion d'honneur
Statue of Grétry (1804–08), marble, by Jean-Baptiste Stouf (1742–1826), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Opéra comique
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Opéra comique 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, which combined existing popular tunes with spoken sections. Associated with the Paris theatre of the same name, opéra comique is not necessarily comical or shallow in nature; Carmen, perhaps the most famous opéra comique, is a tragedy.
Poster for Carmen, probably the most famous opéra comique
André Grétry, the most famous composer of opéra comique before the French Revolution
Title page of the first edition of the full score of Médée by Cherubini, 1797