Pierre-Louis Moline
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Louis Moline was a prolific French dramatist, poet and librettist. His play, La reunion du six aout, was one of the longest-running patriotic pieces during the time of the French Revolution
with 52 performances at the Paris Opéra. He also wrote the epitaph
for the tomb of Jean-Paul Marat
. However, he is best remembered today for having written the libretto
for Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice (a reworked version of his Orfeo ed Euridice
).
which premiered in Vienna at the Schönbrunn Palace
in 1759.
During the French Revolution he served as a secretary-clerk to the National Convention
and wrote several patriotic theatrical pieces including his most famous work of this type, La Réunion du six août. Moline died in on 2 March 1820 leaving no known heirs.
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
with 52 performances at the Paris Opéra. He also wrote the epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
for the tomb of Jean-Paul Marat
Jean-Paul Marat
Jean-Paul Marat , born in the Principality of Neuchâtel, was a physician, political theorist, and scientist best known for his career in France as a radical journalist and politician during the French Revolution...
. However, he is best remembered today for having written the libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
for Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice (a reworked version of his Orfeo ed Euridice
Orfeo ed Euridice
Orfeo ed Euridice is an opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on the myth of Orpheus, set to a libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. It belongs to the genre of the azione teatrale, meaning an opera on a mythological subject with choruses and dancing...
).
Biography
Moline was born in Montpellier and received his degree from the University of Avignon. He then went to Paris where he was accepted as a lawyer to the French parliament. However, he devoted most of his time to literary pursuits. Moline first collaborated with Gluck on L'arbre enchanté, ou Le tuteur dupé, a one-act opéra comiqueOpéra comique
Opéra comique is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged out of the popular opéra comiques en vaudevilles of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent , which combined existing popular tunes with spoken sections...
which premiered in Vienna at the Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...
in 1759.
During the French Revolution he served as a secretary-clerk to the National Convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
and wrote several patriotic theatrical pieces including his most famous work of this type, La Réunion du six août. Moline died in on 2 March 1820 leaving no known heirs.
Libretti
- L'arbre enchantee - operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
set by Gluck, 1759 - Orphée et Eurydice - opera set by Gluck, 1774
- Cythère assiégée - (with FavartCharles Simon FavartCharles Simon Favart was a French dramatist.Born in Paris, the son of a pastry-cook, he was educated at the college of Louis-le-Grand, and after his father's death he carried on the business for a time...
) opera set by Gluck, 1775 - Roger Bontems et Javotte - (with Louis Archambault Dorvigny) comédie mêlée d'ariettesComédie mêlée d'ariettesComédie mêlée d'ariettes is a form of French opéra comique that developed in the mid 18th century following the Querelle des Bouffons dispute over the respective merits of the French and Italian styles, between serious drama and comedy in opera.The best-known ones are Christoph Willibald Gluck's...
(parody of Orphée et Eurydice), 1775 - La Résurrection - oratorioOratorioAn oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
set by Méreaux, 1780 - Jephthe - oratorio set by VogelJohann Vogel (composer)Johann Christoph Vogel was a German composer. He spent most of his life working in France. He moved to Paris in 1776, and entered the service of the Duke of Montmorency and then of the Count of Valentinois as a horn player...
, 1781 - L'arche d'alliance davant Jérusalem - oratorio set by GossecFrançois Joseph GossecFrançois-Joseph Gossec was a French composer of operas, string quartets, symphonies, and choral works.-Life and work:...
, 1781 - La morte d'Absalon - oratorio set by Joseph Lenoble 1782
- Les fureurs de Saül - oratorio set by GiroustFrançois GiroustFrançois Giroust was a French composer.He was the last maître of the Chapelle royale before the French Revolution.-Works, editions and recordings:...
, 1786
Plays
- Thémistocle – tragedy in five acts, 1766
- La Réunion du six août, ou l'Inauguration de la République française - (with Gabriel Bouquier), mêlée de déclamations in five acts, 1794
- Le premier navigateur – comedy in three acts, published 1807
- L'amour anglais - comedy in three acts, 1788
Sources
- Johnson, James H., Listening in Paris: A Cultural History, University of California Press, 1996. ISBN 0520206487
- Mahul, Alphonse (ed.), "Moline, Pierre-Louis", Annuaire nécrologique, ou Supplément annuel et continuation de toutes les biographies ou dictionnaires historiques, Baudouin frères, 1823.
- Ribner, Jonathan P., Broken tablets: the cult of the law in French art from David to Delacroix, University of California Press, 1993. ISBN 0520077490
- Smither, Howard E. A History of the Oratorio, UNC Press, 1977. ISBN 0807812749