Composer

:

André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Les Deux Avares is an opera composed by André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, a Belgian composer, in 1770. The plot of the opera revolves around two misers, Géronte and Léonore, who are in love with each other but refuse to admit it due to their greed for money. The opera is a comedy and is set in Paris. The premiere of Les Deux Avares took place on January 8, 1770, at the Comédie-Italienne in Paris. The opera was an instant success and was performed numerous times in Paris and other cities in France. The opera was also performed in other countries, including Germany, Italy, and Russia. Les Deux Avares is composed of three acts and features arias, duets, and ensembles. The music is light and playful, reflecting the comedic nature of the opera. The opera also features spoken dialogue, which was common in French opera at the time. The characters in Les Deux Avares are well-defined and have distinct personalities. Géronte is a wealthy old man who is obsessed with his money and possessions. Léonore is a young woman who is also a miser and is in love with Géronte. The other characters in the opera include Géronte's servant, Crispin, and Léonore's maid, Lisette. The movements in Les Deux Avares are lively and energetic, with a mix of fast and slow tempos. The arias and duets are melodic and catchy, with memorable tunes that are easy to sing along to. The ensembles are also well-crafted, with each character having their own distinct part. Overall, Les Deux Avares is a charming and entertaining opera that showcases Grétry's talent for composing light and playful music. The opera's success helped establish Grétry as one of the leading composers of his time and cemented his reputation as a master of French opera.

More....