Michel-Jean Sedaine
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Michel-Jean Sedaine (2 June 1719 – 17 May 1797) was a French dramatist and librettist, especially noted for his librettos for
Early life
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 comiques
Sedaine's especial talent was, however, for light opera. He wrote Le diable à quatre, set mainly to
Other such works followed, including
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 dramatist
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
Personal life
Anne Guéret and her sister Louise Catherine Guéret were orphaned as children but were adopted by Sedaine. He died in Paris in 1797.
Legacy
Sedaine may be regarded as the literary ancestor of
His Œuvres (1826) contain a notice of his life by Ducis.
References
Notes
Sources
- Charlton, David (1992). "Sedaine, Michel-Jean" in Sadie 1992, vol. 4, pp. 297–298.
- ISBN 9781561592289.
External links
- Quotations related to Michel-Jean Sedaine at Wikiquote