Full Description
Historians of French politics, art, philosophy and literature have long known the tensions and fascinations of Louis XV's reign, the 1750s in particular. David Charlton's study comprehensively re-examines this period, from Rameau to Gluck and elucidates the long-term issues surrounding opera. Taking Rousseau's Le Devin du Village as one narrative centrepiece, Charlton investigates this opera's origins and influences in the 1740s and goes on to use past and present research to create a new structural model that explains the elements of reform in Gluck's tragédies for Paris. Charlton's book opens many new perspectives on the musical practices and politics of the period, including the Querelle des Bouffons. It gives the first detailed account of intermezzi and opere buffe performed by Eustachio Bambini's troupe at the Paris Opéra from August 1752 to February 1754 and discusses Rameau's comedies Platée and Les Paladins and their origins.
Contents
Part I. Princely Theatre: 1. Palaces and patronage: Le Devin and the 1754 Alceste; 2. Acting: from convention to discipline; 3. The Opéra: cycles versus changes; 4. The reality of pastoral, 1742-52; 5. Le Devin du Village: a contextual enquiry; Part II. Opinion: 6. Opera as a subject of debate; 7. The Querelle: 'two ridiculous theses'; 8. Visions of reform; Part III. Italian Opera for Paris: 9. Travelling opera; 10. 'A real kick in the backside': Bambini's performances and their effect; 11. Creative consequences; Part IV. Towards European Integration: 12. New generations, new tastes; 13. In three acts: from Zaïde to Les Paladins; 14. In three acts: the replacement of Rameau.
