Rousseau: Le Devin du Village

Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's work in music is little known today, but he managed to create and sustain an atmosphere of conflict in the world of French opera during the mid-eighteenth century. Since Rameau, the reigning master of tragédie lyrique at the Opéra, declared one of Rousseau's early operas "the work of a musical ignoramus," Rousseau launched a lifetime vendetta against the traditions of French opera. The primacy of tragédie lyrique was shaken for a few years after Pergolesi's light comedy La serva ... Read More

Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's work in music is little known today, but he managed to create and sustain an atmosphere of conflict in the world of French opera during the mid-eighteenth century. Since Rameau, the reigning master of tragédie lyrique at the Opéra, declared one of Rousseau's early operas "the work of a musical ignoramus," Rousseau launched a lifetime vendetta against the traditions of French opera. The primacy of tragédie lyrique was shaken for a few years after Pergolesi's light comedy La serva padrona was presented in Paris in 1752. Rousseau's brief Le devin du village (The village soothsayer), which was written in a similar, simple, Italianate style to a libretto by the composer, extolling the joys of rustic romance, was premiered the same year. It could hardly have demonstrated a greater contrast with Rameau's elaborate, rigorously mannered (and very long) operas based on mythology or ancient history. Rousseau's opera was a popular success, and while it did not... Read Less