Michel-Jean Sedaine (2 June 1719 – 17 May 1797) was a French dramatist and librettist, especially noted for his librettos for opéras comiques, in which he took an important and influential role in the advancement of the genre from the period of Charles-Simon Favart to the beginning of the Revolution.[1]
Michel-Jean Sedaine, engraving by Pierre-Charles Lévesque after the portrait by David.
Sedaine was born in Paris. His father, an architect, died when Sedaine was quite young and left no fortune to inherit, the young Sedaine therefore began life as a mason's labourer. He was at last taken as pupil by an architect whose kindness he eventually repaid, by the help he was able to give to his benefactor's grandson, the painter David. Meanwhile, he had done his best to repair his deficiencies of education, and in 1750 he published a Recueil de pièces fugitives, which included fables, songs and pastorals.
Writer of opéras comiquesEdit
A scene from Le diable à quatre
Sedaine's especial talent was, however, for light opera. He wrote Le diable à quatre, set mainly to vaudevilles with additional music by Philidor, Laruette and Baurans. First performed at the Foire Saint-Laurent on 19 August 1756, it was produced numerous times with music by different composers and became one of the most performed comic operas in the latter half of the 18th century.
Among his more important works in the genre were two set by Monsigny: Le roi et le fermier (1762), notable for its portrayal of royal recognition of common justice and its 3-act length, and Le déserteur (1769), which included a through-composed finale with chorus.
Work as a dramatistEdit
Bust of Michel-Jean Sedaine, 1775 CE. From Paris, France. By Augustin Pajou. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Sedaine's work in opéra comique attracted the attention of Diderot, and two plays of his were accepted and performed at the Théâtre Français. The first and longest, the Philosophe sans le savoir, was acted in 1765; the second, a lively one-act piece, La gageure imprévue in 1768. These two at once took their place as stock pieces and are still ranked among the best French plays, each of its class. Except these two pieces little or nothing of his has kept the stage.
He wrote two historical dramas, Raymond V, comte de Toulouse ou L'épreuve inutile, and Maillard, ou Paris sauvé.
Sedaine became a member of the Academy (1786),[2] and secretary for architecture of the fine arts division.
Sedaine may be regarded as the literary ancestor of Scribe and Dumas. He had the practical knowledge of the theatre, which enabled him to carry out the ideas of Diderot and give him claims to be regarded as the real founder of the domestic drama in France.
His Œuvres (1826) contain a notice of his life by Ducis.
michel, jean, sedaine, june, 1719, 1797, french, dramatist, librettist, especially, noted, librettos, opéras, comiques, which, took, important, influential, role, advancement, genre, from, period, charles, simon, favart, beginning, revolution, engraving, pierr. Michel Jean Sedaine 2 June 1719 17 May 1797 was a French dramatist and librettist especially noted for his librettos for operas comiques in which he took an important and influential role in the advancement of the genre from the period of Charles Simon Favart to the beginning of the Revolution 1 Michel Jean Sedaine engraving by Pierre Charles Levesque after the portrait by David This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Michel Jean Sedaine news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 Early life 2 Writer of operas comiques 3 Work as a dramatist 4 Personal life 5 Legacy 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditSedaine was born in Paris His father an architect died when Sedaine was quite young and left no fortune to inherit the young Sedaine therefore began life as a mason s labourer He was at last taken as pupil by an architect whose kindness he eventually repaid by the help he was able to give to his benefactor s grandson the painter David Meanwhile he had done his best to repair his deficiencies of education and in 1750 he published a Recueil de pieces fugitives which included fables songs and pastorals Writer of operas comiques Edit nbsp A scene from Le diable a quatreSedaine s especial talent was however for light opera He wrote Le diable a quatre set mainly to vaudevilles with additional music by Philidor Laruette and Baurans First performed at the Foire Saint Laurent on 19 August 1756 it was produced numerous times with music by different composers and became one of the most performed comic operas in the latter half of the 18th century Other such works followed including Blaise le savetier 1759 with music of Philidor On ne s avise jamais de tout 1761 Aline reine de Golconde and others with Pierre Alexandre Monsigny Aucassin et Nicolette 1780 Richard Coeur de lion 1784 and Amphitryon 1788 with Andre Gretry Among his more important works in the genre were two set by Monsigny Le roi et le fermier 1762 notable for its portrayal of royal recognition of common justice and its 3 act length and Le deserteur 1769 which included a through composed finale with chorus Work as a dramatist Edit nbsp Bust of Michel Jean Sedaine 1775 CE From Paris France By Augustin Pajou The Victoria and Albert Museum LondonSedaine s work in opera comique attracted the attention of Diderot and two plays of his were accepted and performed at the Theatre Francais The first and longest the Philosophe sans le savoir was acted in 1765 the second a lively one act piece La gageure imprevue in 1768 These two at once took their place as stock pieces and are still ranked among the best French plays each of its class Except these two pieces little or nothing of his has kept the stage He wrote two historical dramas Raymond V comte de Toulouse ou L epreuve inutile and Maillard ou Paris sauve Sedaine became a member of the Academy 1786 2 and secretary for architecture of the fine arts division Personal life EditAnne Gueret and her sister Louise Catherine Gueret were orphaned as children but were adopted by Sedaine He died in Paris in 1797 Legacy EditSedaine may be regarded as the literary ancestor of Scribe and Dumas He had the practical knowledge of the theatre which enabled him to carry out the ideas of Diderot and give him claims to be regarded as the real founder of the domestic drama in France His Œuvres 1826 contain a notice of his life by Ducis References EditNotes Charlton 1992 p 297 Charlton 1992 p 298 Sources Charlton David 1992 Sedaine Michel Jean in Sadie 1992 vol 4 pp 297 298 Sadie Stanley editor 1992 The new Grove dictionary of opera 4 volumes London Macmillan ISBN 9781561592289 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michel Jean Sedaine nbsp Quotations related to Michel Jean Sedaine at Wikiquote Portals nbsp Biography nbsp France nbsp Music nbsp Theatre Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michel Jean Sedaine amp oldid 1146726316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
