Grétry, André

Grétry, André – Lisbeth, drame lyrique en trois actes (full opera score, French libretto)

b. Lüttich, 11. Februar 1741 – d. Montmorency, 24. September 1813)

Drame lyrique en trois actes

French opera was the specialty of composer André Modeste Grétry, known for his great success in the genre. Born in the Prince-Bishopric of Liege (present day Belgium), Grétry embodied like few others French music and drama as a fervent devotee. Already influenced in early years by his father, who was a professional violinist for the Collegiate Church of St Denis in Liège, young André became a choirboy at the church of St. Denis, and then soon began taking lessons with Jean-Pantaléon Leclerc in 1753. His later teachers included St-Pierre de Liège’s organist, Nicholas Rennekin, and Henri Moreau of the church of St. Paul. Grétry diversified his education in 1761, when he was sent to Rome to study composition.

Aided by his thorough education, he moved to the city of Geneva in 1766 to briefly become a teacher himself, while meeting influential figures such as François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, who helped develop his creative and philosophical perspective. In 1767, he moved to Paris. Here Grétry began the chain of opera comiques that made him famous as a master in the genre. A few of his most successful works included La Vendemmiatrice, an Italian operetta composed for the Aliberti theatre in Rome, and Le Huron, inspired by the Wyandot people. Grétry also was known for unique experimentation with instrumentation, sometimes using the mandolin as he had often heard it during his time in Italy. He was the first opera comique composer to use the tuba curva in his compositions. As a talented teacher he had many students including his two daughters, Lucile and Caroline Wuiet. Following his death in 1813 he was honored 1842 by a bronze statue built in Liège.

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