Hector Berlioz, a prominent 19th-century composer, greatly admired Monsigny's Le Déserteur, stating that its dramatic truth and expression of passions had not been surpassed in any stage composition.
Composition History
Le Déserteur is an opéra comique, a genre that emerged from Parisian fair theatres to satirize the grander tragédies lyriques of the Paris Opéra.
Composer Biography
Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny, the composer, stopped composing for the last forty years of his life due to losing sight in one eye and fearing complete blindness.
Compositional Technique
Le Déserteur features a specifically programmatic overture, scenes where serious and comic characters interact, a heroine who saves the day, and an extended final scene based on a vaudeville-like theme.
Composer Biography
Michel-Jean Sedaine, the librettist, began his career as a stone-mason and assistant architect, following in his father's footsteps, before turning to writing poetry and plays.
Recording & Production
This recording of Le Déserteur features only the musical numbers, with a written explanation of the action provided in the booklet to convey the story and extensive dialogue.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Monsigny and his librettist Michel-Jean Sedaine created a new kind of opéra comique where music was not just an ornament but intimately tied to the drama, appealing directly to the audience's emotions.
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