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Le devin du village (1752) - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Background
As with many French operas, Rousseau’s Le devin du village was first staged for the court, appearing at Fountainebleau on 18 October 1752. The work was then performed at the Paris Opéra on 1 March 1753. The historical importance of this short intermè is closely tied to its role in the famous Querelle de bouffons, a debate about the merits of French serious opera in comparison to Italian comic opera (especially Pergolesi’s La serva padrona).
Rousseau applied the principles of Italian buffo style to Le devin, showing a preference for simple melodies in his airs, and although the subject matter is typical of comic opera’s interest in paysannerie (see Grétry’s Le Huron), the use of recitative explains why Le devin appeared at the Opéra.
Le devin’s popularity is evident in that it was parodied by the Comédie-Italienne and later arranged in English by Charles Burney. However, Rousseau’s outspoken nature caused problems for him at the Opéra when he wrote an indictment against French opera (titled Lettre sur la musique française) late in 1753. While Rousseau was no longer welcome at the Opéra, Le devin continued to be performed until the early nineteenth century. Berlioz famously criticized the work, though, and argued that Rameau’s music was far superior to Rousseau’s diminutive intermé.
Plot
The lady of the manor entices Colin to leave Collette. However, the village soothsayer helps Colin realize that he loves Collette. In the meantime, Collette pretends that she has turned her attention to another man, encouraging Colin to declare his feelings. The villagers rejoice at the end, with Colin and Collette reunited.
Bibliography
Title from title page: LE DEVIN / DU VILLAGE / INTERMÉDE
Genre: Intermède
Composer and Librettist: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778
Setting: A village
Premiere: Fontainebleau, 18 October 1752
First published: Paris, Mme Boivin, Le Clerc, Mlle Castagnery, 1753
Volume in the UNT Collection: (Le Duc)
For further reading on Le Devin du village, see:
Heartz, Daniel. “The Beginnings of the Operatic Romance: Rousseau, Sedaine, and Monsigny.” Eighteenth-Century Studies 15 (1981-82): 149-78.
Robinson, Philip. “Devin du village, Le.” Grove Music Online, ed. Laura Macy. [Accessed 10 February 2004]. <http://www.grovemusic.com>
Strauss, John. “Jean Jacques Rousseau: Musician.” Musical Quarterly 64 (1978): 474–82.
Whittall, Arnold. “Rousseau and the Scope of Opera.” Music and Letters 45 (1964): 369–76.
Physical
Dimensions: 31.3 x 24.5 cm.
Conservation: Foxing; cockling and creasing; bleed-across and faded text; some stains; dealer's stamp on title page; cover worn with frayed edges; cover was blue at one time and has turned green; spine is missing most of its covering.
Binding: Blue paper (discolored to green).
Comments: From the Lloyd Hibberd Collection; North Texas property stamps.