Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne (; English: Upper Marne) is a department in the Grand Est region of Northeastern France. Named after the river Marne, its prefecture is Chaumont. In 2019, it had a population of 172,512.the Revolution and came in 1793 to Paris, where he produced his first opera, ''Le Rêve'', in 1799, in collaboration with Antoine-Frédéric Gresnick. Although Étienne continued to write for the Paris theatres for twenty years from that date, he is remembered chiefly as the author of one
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
, which excited considerable controversy. ''Les Deux Gendres'' was represented at the Théâtre Français on 11 August 1810, and procured for its author a seat in the
Académie française
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...
.
A rumour was put in circulation that Étienne had drawn largely on a manuscript play in the imperial library, entitled ''Conaxa, ou les gendres dupes''. His rivals were not slow to take up the charge of
plagiarism
Plagiarism is the fraudulent representation of another person's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work.From the 1995 '' Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary'': use or close imitation of the language and though ...
, to which Étienne replied that the story was an old one (it existed in an old
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
fabliau
A ''fabliau'' (; plural ''fabliaux'') is a comic, often anonymous tale written by jongleurs in northeast France between c. 1150 and 1400. They are generally characterized by sexual and scatological obscenity, and by a set of contrary attitudes ...
s) and had already been treated by
Alexis Piron
Alexis Piron (9 July 1689 – 21 January 1773) was a French epigrammatist and dramatist.
Life
He was born at Dijon, where his father, Aimé Piron, was an apothecary. Piron senior wrote verse in the Burgundian language. Alexis began life as ...
in ''Les Fils ingrats''.
He was, however, driven later to make admissions which at least showed a certain lack of candour. The bitterness of the attacks made on him was no doubt in part due to his position as editor-in-chief of the official ''Journal de l'Empire''. His next play, ''L'Intrigante'' (1812), hardly maintained the high level of ''Les Deux Gendres''; the patriotic opera ''L'Oriflamme'' and his lyric masterpiece ''Joconde'' date from 1814.
Étienne had been secretary to
Hugues-Bernard Maret, Duc de Bassano
Hugues-Bernard Maret (, 1 May 1763 – 13 May 1839), 1st Duke of Bassano (''Duc de Bassano''), was a French statesman, diplomat and journalist.
Biography
Early career
Maret was born in Dijon, in the province of Burgundy, as the second son of ...
, and in this capacity had accompanied
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...
throughout his campaigns in Italy, Germany, Austria and Poland. During these journeys he produced one of his best pieces, ''Brueys et Palaprat'' (1807). During the Restoration Étienne was an active member of the opposition. He was seven times returned as deputy for the ''
département
In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level (" territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the communes. Ninety ...
'' of
Meuse
The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a ...
, and was in full sympathy with the revolution of 1830, but the reforms actually carried out did not fulfil his expectations, and he gradually retired from public life. Among his other plays may be noted: ''Les Deux Mères'', ''Le Pacha de Suresnes'', and ''La Petite Ecole des pres'', all produced in 1802, in collaboration with his friend Charles Gaugiran de Nanteuil (1778–1830).
With Alphonse Dieudonné Martainville (1779–1830) he wrote an ''Histoire du Théâtre Français'' (5 vols, 1802) during the revolutionary period. Étienne was a bitter opponent of the
romanticists
Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...
, one of whom,
Alfred de Vigny
Alfred Victor, Comte de Vigny (27 March 1797 – 17 September 1863) was a French poet and early French Romanticist. He also produced novels, plays, and translations of Shakespeare.
Biography
Vigny was born in Loches (a town to which he never r ...
, was his successor and
panegyrist
A panegyric ( or ) is a formal public speech or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing. The original panegyrics were speeches delivered at public events in ancient Athens.
Etymology
The word originated as a compound of grc, ...
in the Academy. He was an Officer in the
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleo ...
, and was buried in the
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery (french: Cimetière du Père-Lachaise ; formerly , "East Cemetery") is the largest cemetery in Paris, France (). With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Notable figure ...
in Paris.
In ''Bruis et Palaprat'', Étienne penned the phrase "On n'est jamais servi si bien que par soi-même", which has widely been translated as "If you want something done right, do it yourself", although the literal translation is "One is never served so well as by oneself".''Dictionary of Quotations'' (French) /ref>
Works
Theatre
*1799: ''Le Rêve'', opéra comique in 1 act and in prose, lyrics by citizen Étienne, music by citizen Gresnich, Paris,
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...
, 8 pluviôse an VII
*1800: ''Rembrandt ou la Vente après décès'', vaudeville anecdotique in 1 act, by citizens Étienne,
Morel
''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales ( division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges wi ...
, Servière and Moras, Théâtre des Troubadours, 26 fructidor an VIII
*1800: ''Le Chaudronnier, Homme d'État'', comedy in three acts and in prose,
Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique
The Théâtre de l’Ambigu-Comique (, literally, Theatre of the Comic-Ambiguity), a former Parisian theatre, was founded in 1769 on the boulevard du Temple immediately adjacent to the Théâtre de Nicolet. It was rebuilt in 1770 and 1786, but in ...
, 1er thermidor an VIII
*1800: ''La Lettre sans adresse'', comedy in 1 act and in prose, mingled with vaudevilles... by citizens Étienne and Moras, Théâtre des Troubadours, 26 vendémiaire an IX
*1800: ''L'Apollon du Belvédere ou l'Oracle'', folie-vaudeville impromptue in 1 act, by citizens Étienne, Moras and Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Théâtre des Troubadours, 29, 30 brumaire, 1er, 2 and 3 frimaire an IX
*1801: ''Pont-de-Veyle ou le Bonnet de docteur'', comédie en vaudeville in 1 act, by citizens Gosse and Étienne,
Théâtre des Variétés
The Théâtre des Variétés is a theatre and "salle de spectacles" at 7–8, boulevard Montmartre, 2nd arrondissement, in Paris. It was declared a monument historique in 1974.
History
It owes its creation to the theatre director Mademoiselle ...
, 6 vendémiaire an X
*1801: ''Désirée ou la Paix du village'', allegory in 1 act, in vaudevilles, by citizens Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Moras and Étienne, Théâtre Favart, 5 germinal an IX
*1801: ''Le Grand Deuil'', opéra bouffon, lyrics by citizens J.-B. Vial eand C.-G. Étienne, music by citizen H. Berton, Opéra-comique, 1er pluviôse an IX
*1802: ''Le Pacha de Suresnes ou l'Amitié des femmes'', comédie-anecdote in 1 act and in prose, by citizens C.-G. Étienne and Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Théâtre Louvois, 11 prairial an X
* ''La Petite École des pères'', comedy in 1 act and in prose, by C.-G. Étienne and Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Théâtre Louvois, 8 nivôse an XI
*1803: ''Le Pauvre Riche ou la Séparation de biens'', comedy in three acts and in prose written in society with Mr. Nanteuil, Théâtre Louvois, en vendémiaire an XII
*1803: ''Les Maris en bonne fortune'', comedy in 3 acts, Théâtre Louvois, 9 germinal an XI
*1804: ''La Jeune Femme en colère'', comedy in 1 act and in prose, Théâtre de l'Impératrice, 28 vendémiaire an XIII
*1804: ''Isabelle de Portugal ou l'Héritage'', historical comedy in 1 act, in prose, by MMs. Étienne and Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Théâtre de l'Impératrice, 27 November
*1804: ''Une heure de mariage'', comedy in one act and in prose mingled with ariettes, music by
Nicolas Dalayrac
Nicolas-Marie d'Alayrac (; bapt. 13 June 175326 November 1809), nicknamed the Musician poet, more commonly Nicolas Dalayrac, was a French composer of the Classical period. Intended for a military career, he made the acquaintance of many mu ...
, created at the Opéra-Comique (théâtre Feydeau), 29 ventôse an XII (20 March)
*1805: ''Gulistan ou le Hulla de Samarcande'', comedy in three acts and in prose mingled with ariettes, with Poisson de La Chabeaussière after the ''
One Thousand and One Nights
''One Thousand and One Nights'' ( ar, أَلْفُ لَيْلَةٍ وَلَيْلَةٌ, italic=yes, ) is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the ''Arabian ...
'', music by
Nicolas Dalayrac
Nicolas-Marie d'Alayrac (; bapt. 13 June 175326 November 1809), nicknamed the Musician poet, more commonly Nicolas Dalayrac, was a French composer of the Classical period. Intended for a military career, he made the acquaintance of many mu ...
, creatred at the Opéra-Comique (Théâtre Feydeau), 8 vendémiaire an XIV (30 September)
*1806: ''Le Nouveau Réveil d'Épiménide'', comédie épisodique in 1 act, in prose, by MM. Étienne and Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Théâtre de l'Impératrice, 5 February
*1807: ''Le Carnaval de Beaugency ou Mascarade sur mascarade'', comedy in 1 act, in prose, by MM. Étienne and Gaugiran-Nanteuil, Théâtre de l'Impératrice, 2 February
*1807: ''Bruis et Palaprat'', comedy in 1 act and in verse, Théâtre-Français, 28 November
*1808: ''Un jour à Paris ou la Leçon singulière'', opéra comique in 3 acts, mingled with music, lyrics by M. Étienne, music by M.
Nicolas Isouard
Nicolas Isouard (also known as ''Nicolò'', ''Nicolò Isoiar'' or ''Nicolò de Malte''; 18 May 1773 – 23 March 1818) was a Maltese-born French composer.
Biography
Born in Porto Salvo, Valletta, Malta, Isouard studied in Rabat or Mdina with Fra ...
, Opéra-comique, 24 May
*1810: ''
Cendrillon
''Cendrillon'' (''Cinderella'') is an opera—described as a "fairy tale"—in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Caïn based on Perrault's 1698 version of the Cinderella fairy tale.
It had its premiere performance on 24 ...
'', opéra-féerie in 3 acts and in prose, lyrics by M. Étienne, music by Nicolas Isouard, Opéra-comique, 22 February
*1810: ''Les Deux Gendres'', comedy in 5 acts and in verse, Théâtre-Français, 11 August
*1812: ''Le Chômeur naïf'', comedy in 1 act and in prose, Théâtre-Français, 12 May.
*1813: ''L'Intrigante ou l'École des familles'', comedy in 5 acts and in verse, Théâtre-Français, 6 March
*1814: ''L'Oriflamme'', opera in 1 act, lyrics by C.-G. Étienne and Baour-Lormian, music by Méhul, Paer, Breton and Kreutzer, Académie impériale de musique, 1 February
*1814: ''Joconde ou les Coureurs d'aventures'', comedy in 3 acts, mingled with singing, by M. Étienne, music by Nicolo (Nicolas Isouard), Théâtre de l'opéra-comique, 28 February
*1814: ''Jeannot et Colin'', comedy in 3 acts, mingled with songs, by M. Étienne, music by Nicolo, Théâtre de l'opéra-comique, 17 October
*1815: ''Racine et Cavois'', comedy in 3 acts and in verse, Théâtre-Français, 26 April
*1816: ''Le Rossignol'', opéra comique in 1 act, lyrics by C.-G. Étienne, music by Lebrun,
Académie royale de musique
The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be k ...
, 23 April
*1816: ''L'Une pour l'autre'', opéra comique in 3 acts, by M. Étienne, music by M. Nicolo, Opéra-comique, 11 May
*1818: ''Zéloïde ou les Fleurs enchantées'', opera in 2 acts, lyrics by C.-G. Étienne, music by Lebrun, Académie royale de musique, 19 January
*1821: ''Les Plaideurs sans procès'', comedy in 3 acts and in verse, Théâtre-Français, 29 October
*1822: ''Aladin ou la Lampe merveilleuse'', opéra-féerie in 5 acts, Académie royale de musique, 6 February (music by Nicolo and Benincori)
*1825: ''Le Bénéficiaire'', comedy in 5 acts and 1 vaudeville, by MM. Théaulon and Étienne, Théâtre des Variétés, 26 April
*1826: ''Le Chiffonnier ou le Philosophe nocturne'', comédie en vaudeville in 5 acts and in 1 day, by MM. Théaulon et Étienne, Théâtre des Variétés, 6 January
*1827: ''Une nuit de Gustave Wasa ou le Batelier suédois'', opéra comique in 2 acts, lyrics by J.-M.-C. Leber and C.-G. Étienne, Opéra-comique, 29 September
*1830: ''Arwed ou les Représailles'', épisode de la guerre d'Amérique, drama in 2 acts, mingled with
couplet
A couplet is a pair of successive lines of metre in poetry. A couplet usually consists of two successive lines that rhyme and have the same metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (or closed) couplet, each of the ...
s, by MM. Étienne, Varin and Desvergers,
Théâtre du Vaudeville
The Théâtre du Vaudeville was a theatre company in Paris. It opened on 12 January 1792 on rue de Chartres. Its directors, Piis and Barré, mainly put on "petites pièces mêlées de couplets sur des airs connus", including vaudevilles.
Af ...
, 31 March
Varia
*1802: ''Histoire du Théâtre français depuis le commencement de la Révolution jusqu'à la réunion générale'' by C. G. Étienne and Alphonse Martainville (2 volumes)
*1820: ''Lettres sur Paris ou Correspondance pour servir à l'histoire de l'établissement du gouvernement représentatif en France'' (2 volumes)
*1825: ''Mémoires de François Molé, preceded by a notice about this actor, by M. Étienne. ''Le Comédien'', by M. Remond de Sainte Albine''
*1846–1853: ''Œuvres'' (5 volumes)