An Examination of Selected Opera-Comiques of Adrien Boieldieu (France)
During his lifetime the opera-comiques of Adrien Boieldieu (1775-1834) were regarded as the finest and most successful examples of the genre. Boieldieu's new productions were eagerly awaited by public and musicians alike and were frequently revived in subsequent years. The most famous singers of the Opera-Comique created the leading roles and many remained favorite performers of Boieldieu for over twenty years. His masterwork, La dame blanche (1825), is consistently referred to by noted authorities as the apogee of the "classical phase" of opera-comique. Boieldieu's life and compositional career began at the height of the Classical period and witnessed the birth of the Romantic era. His own works reflect the times in which he lived and the changes which occurred in musical style and public taste. After a biographical chapter, five of Boieldieu's most important opera-comiques are discussed. The compositions cover a twenty-five year span from 1800 to 1825: (UNFORMATTED TABLE FOLLOWS)
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