Grétry, André Ernest Modeste. (1741-1813)
PANURGE dans l'ILE des LANTERNES - 18th Century Painted Fan with Printed Music
A remarkable hand-painted folding fan, illustrated with both printed music and scenes from Gretry's 1785 opera, first performed at the Académie royale de musique, 25 January. The paper is engraved and then painted in gouache with scenes from the opera - one central illustration with two lateral medallions - and the verso featuring an extract of the music and text. The frame accomplished in carved mother of pearl. A few early restorations to the verso of the paper, overall in bright and very fine condition. 27.5 cm in length.Grétry's "Chinese" opera, with choreography by Maximilien Gardel, enjoyed widespread success. In his memoirs, Grétry recognized Panurge for being the first comic opera to enjoy a successful run at the Opéra and he saw the work as a turning point for this theater, which traditionally presented serious plots. (Grétry, Memoires; ou, Essais sur la musique, 377) The overture - with its 'oriental' themes - was featured on concerts into the nineteenth century, and although the opera eventually disappeared from the repertoire, its long stint was noted as late as 1866, by which time it was no longer being performed (Crozet, Revue de la musique dramatique en France, 275-76). (11533)
Ephemera Opera