Jean Elleviou (14 June 1769 in

Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...

– 5 May 1842 in Paris) was a French operatic

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

, one of the most celebrated French singers of his time. Born Pierre-Jean-Baptiste-François Elleviou, he made his debut at the

Comédie-Italienne Comédie-Italienne () or Théâtre-Italien () are French names which have been used to refer to Italian-language theatre and opera when performed in France. The earliest recorded visits by Italian players were ''commedia dell'arte'' companies ...

in Paris in 1790, as a

baritone A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...

in the role of Alexis in Monsigny's '' Le déserteur'', and the following year as a tenor in

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 ...

's ''Philippe et Georgette''. He went on creating some 40 roles during the next 20 years, in operas by Grétry, Dalayrac, Monsigny, Boieldieu, Méhul, Isouard, etc. His repertory also included Azor in '' Zémire et Azor'', Blondel in '' Richard Coeur-de-lion'', Almaviva in

Paisiello Giovanni Paisiello (or Paesiello; 9 May 1740 – 5 June 1816) was an Italian composer of the Classical era, and was the most popular opera composer of the late 1700s. His operatic style influenced Mozart and Rossini. Life Paisiello was born in ...

's ''

Il barbiere di Siviglia ''The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution'' ( ) is an ''opera buffa'' (comic opera) in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's French comedy '' ...

''. He sang extensively in Italy in 1795, and across France in 1795 to 1797, then returned to Paris, appearing at the newly renamed

Opéra-Comique The Opéra-Comique () is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular Théâtre de la foire, theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief riva ...

. He retired in 1813, after

Napoléon I Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

refused to increase his already huge salary. According to contemporaries, his voice was very sweet and flexible, he was noted for his eloquent diction, and had a handsome and charming stage presence which made him a great favourite of Paris audiences.

Repertoire

*'' Le déserteur'' by Monsigny, libretto by Sedaine (reprise

salle Favart The Salle Favart (), officially the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique (), is a Paris opera house and theatre, the current home of the Opéra-Comique. It was built from 1893 to 1898 in a neo-Baroque style to the designs of the French architect Louis ...

, 19 April

1790 Events January–March * January 8 – United States President George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City. * January 11 – The 11 minor states of the Austrian Netherlands, which took pa ...

) : Alexis *''Sylvain'', music by

André Grétry André Ernest Modeste Grétry (; baptised 11 February 1741; died 24 September 1813) was a composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (present-day Belgium), who worked from 1767 onwards in France and took French nationality. He is most famous ...

, libretto by

Jean-François Marmontel Jean-François Marmontel (; 11 July 1723 – 31 December 1799) was a French historian, writer and a member of the Encyclopédistes movement. Biography He was born of poor parents at Bort, Limousin (today in Corrèze). After studying wi ...

(reprise salle Favart) : Sylvain *''Philippe et Georgette'', 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 ...

, libretto by Jacques-Marie Boutet de Monvel (created salle Favart, 28 December

1791 Events January–March * January 1 – Austrian composer Joseph Haydn arrives in England, to perform a series of concerts. * January 2 – Northwest Indian War: Big Bottom Massacre – The war begins in the Ohio Count ...

) : Philippe *''Paul et Virginie'', music by

Rodolphe Kreutzer Rodolphe Kreutzer (15 November 1766 – 6 January 1831) was a French violinist, teacher, conductor, and composer of forty French operas, including '' La mort d'Abel'' (1810). He is probably best known as the dedicatee of Beethoven's Violin Son ...

, libretto by Edmond-Guillaume-François de Favières (reprise salle Favart, 15 January

) : Zabis * ''Camille ou le Souterrain'', music by Dalayrac, libretto by Marsollier (created salle Favart, 19 March

) : Lorédan *''Tout pour l'amour ou Roméo et Juliette'', music by Dalayrac, libretto by Jacques-Marie Boutet de Monvel (created salle Favart, 7 July

1792 Events January–March * January 9 – The Treaty of Jassy ends the Russian Empire's war with the Ottoman Empire over Crimea. * January 25 – The London Corresponding Society is founded. * February 18 – Thomas Holcrof ...

) : Théobald *''Cécile et Julien ou le Siège de Lille'', music by

Trial fils In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, wh ...

, libretto by Joigny (created salle Favart, 21 November

) : an emigrant *''Azémia ou le Nouveau Robinson'', music by Dalayrac, libretto by Auguste-Etienne-Xavier Poisson de la Chabeaussière (reprise salle Favart) : Prosper *''La Prise de Toulon par les Français'', music by Auguste Lemière de Corvey, libretto by Alexandre Duval (created salle Favart, le 21) : Armand *''L'Oncle valet'', music by Domenico Della Maria, libretto by Alexandre Duval (created salle Favart, 8 December

1798 Events January–June * January – Eli Whitney contracts with the U.S. federal government for 10,000 muskets, which he produces with interchangeable parts. * January 4 – Constantine Hangerli enters Bucharest, as Prince of ...

) : Florval *''Adolphe et Clara ou les Deux Prisonniers'', music by Nicolas Dalayrac, libretto by

Benoît-Joseph Marsollier Benoît-Joseph Marsollier (also known as Benoît-Joseph Marsollier des Vivetières, (Paris, 1750 – Versailles, 22 April 1817) was a French playwright and librettist. He is particularly noted for his work in opéra comique. In 1780 he also led t ...

(creation salle Favart, 10 February

1799 Events January–March * January 9 – British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduces an income tax of two shillings to the pound, to raise funds for Great Britain's war effort in the French Revolutionary Wars. * January ...

) : Adolphe *''Le Trente et quarante ou le Portrait'', music by Angelo Tarchi, libretto by Alexandre Duval (created salle Favart, 6 May

) : Valcour * ''Camille ou le Souterrain'', music by Dalayrac, libretto by Marsollier (reprise salle Favart) : Alberti *''Beniowski ou les Éxiles du Kamtschatka'', music by Boieldieu, libretto by Alexandre Duval (created salle Favart, 8 June

1800 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 18), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 12 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 16), ...

) : Valcour *''Le Calife de Bagdad'', music by Boieldieu, libretto by Saint-Just (created salle Favart, 16 September

) : Isauun *''Maison à vendre'', music by Dalayrac, libretto by Alexandre Duval (created salle Favart, 23 October

) : Versac *''L'Irato ou l'Emporté'', music by

Étienne Nicolas Méhul Étienne, a French analog of Stephen or Steven, is a masculine given name. An archaic variant of the name, prevalent up to the mid-17th century, is Estienne. Étienne, Etienne, Ettiene or Ettienne may refer to: People Artists and entertainers * ...

, libretto by Marsollier (création salle Favart, 17 February

1801 Events January–March *January 1 ** The legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland is completed under the Act of Union 1800, bringing about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the abolition of the Parliament of Ir ...

) : Lysandre *''Paul et Virginie'', music by

, livret d'Edmond de Favières (reprise

théâtre Feydeau The Théâtre Feydeau (), a former Parisian theatre company, was founded in 1789 with the patronage of Monsieur, Comte de Provence (later to become Louis XVIII), and was therefore initially named the Théâtre de Monsieur. It began performing in ...

, le 24) : Paul *'' Zémire et Azor'', music by Grétry, libretto by Marmontel (reprise théâtre Feydeau, 17 May

1802 Events January–March * January 5 – Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, begins removal of the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Athens, claiming they are at risk of destruction during the Ott ...

) *''Pierre le Grand'', music by Grétry, libretto by

Jean-Nicolas Bouilly Jean-Nicolas Bouilly (24 January 1763 – 14 April 1842) was a French playwright, Libretto, librettist, Children's literature, children's writer, and politician of the French Revolution. He is best known for writing a libretto, supposedly based ...

(reprise

Théâtre Feydeau The Théâtre Feydeau (), a former Parisian theatre company, was founded in 1789 with the patronage of Monsieur, Comte de Provence (later to become Louis XVIII), and was therefore initially named the Théâtre de Monsieur. It began performing in ...

, 21 July

) : Pierre *''Picaros et Diego ou la Folle Soirée'', music by Dalayrac, libretto by Emmanuel Dupaty (created théâtre Feydeau, 3 May

1803 Events January–March * January 1 – The first edition of Alexandre Balthazar Laurent Grimod de La Reynière's ''Almanach des gourmands'', the first guide to restaurant cooking, is published in Paris. * January 4 – William Symingt ...

) *''L’Ami de la maison'', music by Grétry, libretto by

(reprise Théâtre Feydeau, 15 September

1804 Events January–March * January 1 – Haiti gains independence from France, and becomes the first black republic. * February 4 – The Sokoto Caliphate is founded in West Africa. * February 14 – The First Serbian uprising begins th ...

) *''Richard Cœur-de-Lion'', music by Grétry, libretto by Sedaine (reprise Théâtre Feydeau, 20 March

1806 Events January–March *January 1 ** The French Republican Calendar is abolished. ** The Kingdom of Bavaria is established by Napoleon. *January 5 – The body of British naval leader Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, lies in state ...

) *''Le Roy et le Fermier'' de Monsigny, libretto by Sedaine (reprise Théâtre Feydeau 23 October

) *''

Joseph Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...

'' by Méhul, libretto by Alexandre Duval (created Théâtre Feydeau 17 February

1807 Events January–March *January 7 – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland issues an Order in Council prohibiting British ships from trading with France or its allies. *January 20 – The Sierra Leone Company, faced with b ...

) : Joseph *'' Jean de Paris'', music by Boieldieu, libretto by Saint-Just (created Théâtre Feydeau 4 April

1812 Events January–March * January 1 – The ''Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch'' (the Austrian civil code) enters into force in the Austrian Empire. * January 19 – Peninsular War: The French-held fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo Siege ...

) : Jean de Paris

Sources

*''Le guide de l'opéra'', Mancini & Rouveroux, (Fayard, 1986) *

Ferdinand Hoefer Jean Chrétien Ferdinand Hoefer (German: ''Ferdinand Höfer'', 21 April 1811, Döschnitz – 4 May 1878) was a German-French physician and lexicographer. He is now known for his many works on the history of science. Selected works *''Éléme ...

, ''Nouvelle Biographie générale'', t. 7, Firmin-Didot, Paris, 1857, . *

Arthur Pougin Arthur Pougin ( 6 August 1834 – 8 August 1921) was a French musical and dramatic critic and writer. He was born at Châteauroux (Indre) and studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris under Alard (violin) and Reber (harmony). In 1855 he becam ...

, ''Figures d’opéra-comique'', Tresse, Paris, 1875, Read online
on Internet Archive) ; rééd. Symétrie, Lyon, 2012 (). *

Joël-Marie Fauquet Joël-Marie Fauquet (born 27 April 1942 at Nogent-le-Rotrou) is a French musicologist. Life Fauquet studied applied arts before devoting himself to musicology and the social history of music. Director of research at the Centre national de la r ...

, « Jean Elleviou » in ''Dictionnaire de la musique en France au XIXe siècle'',

Fayard Fayard (complete name: ''Librairie Arthème Fayard'') is a French Paris-based publishing house established in 1857. Fayard is controlled by Hachette Livre. In 1999, Éditions Pauvert became part of Fayard. Claude Durand was director of Fayar ...

, Paris, 2003 * Raphaëlle Legrand, Nicole Wild, ''Regards sur l'Opéra-Comique : Trois siècles de vie théâtrale'', coll. « Sciences de la musique », CNRS éditions, Paris, 2002. . * Nicole Wild, David Charlton, ''Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, Paris : Répertoire 1762-1972'', coll. Musique/musicologie, Mardaga, Liège, 2005 . {{DEFAULTSORT:Elleviou, Jean Musicians from Rennes 1769 births 1842 deaths People of the Ancien Régime French operatic tenors French opera librettists