Adolphe-Simonis Empis
Encyclopedia
Adolphe-Dominique Florent Joseph Simonis, known as Empis, b. 29 March 1795, Paris
, d. 11 December 1868, Paris, was a French
dramatist.
, Empis became master clerk in a notary's office. It was in this capacity that he happened to be at the home of the composer
Spontini
, who lived in Paris at that time. In search of inspiration, the musicien consulted Empis and declared himself charmed by his advice. Thus encouraged to launch himself down a new path, Empis wrote two booklets in collaboration, of which the second, Vendôme en Espagne, was set to music in 1823 by Herold
and Auber. The following year, Empis began to write for the theatre and at the same time set forth on an administrative career, becoming at various times the secretary to the royal libraries, inspector of the crown house governing service, and ultimately head of the first division to the ministry of the royal house. His dramas and comedies made him worthy of election to the Académie française
in 1847, and then to succeed Arsène Houssaye
as administrateur général
of the Théâtre-Français
in 1856.
While certain of Empis' plays became fashionable, notably La Mère et la fille, which ran at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1830 with Frédérick Lemaître
in the principal role, they were mostly attracted a cool critical reception and disdain from the public. After seeing Un Jeune Ménage at the Théâtre-Français in 1838, a theatre critic wrote in L'Artiste : "Nothing distinguishes this new drama from the other plays which Monsieur Empis has given to the theatre. It contains the same kind of intrigue and the same ideas. In a word, it is a work which without being absolutely bad, does not shine either with respect to inventiveness, nor characterization, nor style.. a mediocre work without bearing, which has no purpose but to reproduce scenes of daily life in all their common reality". Empis' plays never regained their popularity.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, d. 11 December 1868, Paris, was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
dramatist.
Life and works
After studying at the lycée ImpérialLycée Condorcet
The Lycée Condorcet is a school founded in 1803 in Paris, France, located at 8, rue du Havre, in the city's IXe arrondissement. Since its inception, various political eras have seen it given a number of different names, but its identity today honors the memory of the Marquis de Condorcet. The...
, Empis became master clerk in a notary's office. It was in this capacity that he happened to be at the home of the composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Spontini
Gaspare Spontini
Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini was an Italian opera composer and conductor, extremely celebrated in his time, though largely forgotten after his death.-Biography:...
, who lived in Paris at that time. In search of inspiration, the musicien consulted Empis and declared himself charmed by his advice. Thus encouraged to launch himself down a new path, Empis wrote two booklets in collaboration, of which the second, Vendôme en Espagne, was set to music in 1823 by Herold
Louis Joseph Ferdinand Herold
Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérold, better known as Ferdinand Hérold, , was a French operatic composer of Alsatian descent who also wrote many pieces for the piano, orchestra, and the ballet. He is best known today for the ballet La fille mal gardée and the overture to the opera Zampa.- Biography :L.J.F...
and Auber. The following year, Empis began to write for the theatre and at the same time set forth on an administrative career, becoming at various times the secretary to the royal libraries, inspector of the crown house governing service, and ultimately head of the first division to the ministry of the royal house. His dramas and comedies made him worthy of election to the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
in 1847, and then to succeed Arsène Houssaye
Arsène Houssaye
Arsène Houssaye , French novelist, poet and man of letters, was born at Bruyères , near Laon. His real surname was Housset....
as administrateur général
Administrators of the Comédie-Française
The following is a list of the administrators of the Comédie-Française, from 1799, date of the merger between the Théâtre de la Nation and the Théâtre de la République.-Source:...
of the Théâtre-Français
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
in 1856.
While certain of Empis' plays became fashionable, notably La Mère et la fille, which ran at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1830 with Frédérick Lemaître
Frédérick Lemaître
Frédérick Lemaître — birth name Antoine Louis Prosper Lemaître — was a French actor and playwright, one of the most famous players on the celebrated Boulevard du Crime.-Biography:...
in the principal role, they were mostly attracted a cool critical reception and disdain from the public. After seeing Un Jeune Ménage at the Théâtre-Français in 1838, a theatre critic wrote in L'Artiste : "Nothing distinguishes this new drama from the other plays which Monsieur Empis has given to the theatre. It contains the same kind of intrigue and the same ideas. In a word, it is a work which without being absolutely bad, does not shine either with respect to inventiveness, nor characterization, nor style.. a mediocre work without bearing, which has no purpose but to reproduce scenes of daily life in all their common reality". Empis' plays never regained their popularity.
Theatre
- Sapho, tragédie lyrique en 3 actes, Paris, Académie royale de musiqueAcadémie Royale de MusiqueThe Salle Le Peletier was the home of the Paris Opera from 1821 until the building was destroyed by fire in 1873. The theatre was designed and constructed by the architect François Debret on the site of the former Hôtel de Choiseul...
, 12 August 1818 - Vendôme en Espagne, drame lyrique en 1 acte, Paris, Académie royale de musique, December 1823
- Bothwell, drame historique en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Comédie-Française, 21 June 1824
- L'Agiotage, ou le Métier à la mode, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 25 July 1826
- Lambert Simnel, ou le Mannequin politique, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 24 March 1827
- La Mère et la fille, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre de l'Odéon, 11 October 1830
- La Dame et la demoiselle, comédie en 4 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 14 October 1830
- Un Changement de ministère, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre de l'Odéon, 12 March 1831
- Une Liaison, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 21 April 1834
- Lord Novart, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 27 February 1836
- Julie, ou Une séparation, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 2 May 1837
- Un Jeune Ménage, drame en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 6 September 1838
- Théâtre (2 volumes, 1840)
- L'Héritière, ou Un coup de partie, comédie en 5 actes et en prose, Paris, Théâtre-Français, 4 September 1844
- L'Ingénue à la cour, comédie en 5 actes, Paris, Théâtre de l'Odéon, 20 mars 1846
- Les Six Femmes de Henri VIII, scènes historiques (2 volumes, 1854) Online text 1 2