7 - On the Music for the Theatre Composed by Natives of France

Summary

London Institution, 7 March 1864

A country which can include in its list of composers for the theatre the names of Rameau, Méhul, Auber, Hérold, Boieldieu, Halévy, Berlioz, with many others scarcely less eminent, can bear favorable comparison with any other nation where the art is cultivated and enjoyed. Had J. J. Rousseau lived to witness the complete development of the French school of lyric music, he might probably have rewritten his celebrated letter of 1753, substituting praise for censure.

You will observe that I have, in my list of this evening, drawn lines of separation, firstly between Rameau and Méhul, and again between Méhul and Boieldieu. I will endeavour to explain why I have done this.

Rameau stands alone as a native French composer of opera of the epoch in which he lived. His predecessor was Lulli the Italian, and his successor was the famous Grétry the Belgian, both of whom I have already brought before you in my former lectures. Had I been giving a history of the lyric drama itself, these names must have been bracketed together, but tonight Rameau stands alone, there being, as far as I know, no native composer of his time worthy to be classed with him.

Again, the name of Méhul should on every account be as far removed from Rameau as those who come after Méhul should be separated from him. It is not only in consideration of the immense advance in the art which the compositions of Méhul exhibit, when comparing them with those of his compatriot Rameau, that this line of separation is rendered necessary; but it must also be admitted that the absence of one illustrious name immediately previous to Méhul creates a gap which it would not be wise to pass over without some explanation.

One must not suppose that the French lyric drama passed over at once from Rameau on to the shoulders of Méhul. The great master of the situation at this moment was Gluck, and Méhul was his disciple. I must not be tempted to speak of Gluck the German (except thus incidentally) this evening; he will take a most honorable place in my lecture on ‘The Music by Composers Native of Germany’.