Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1
1785-03-02
Paris afternoon. La Servante Maitresse,1 and, the 20th. Representation of Richard
Coeur de Lion, an Opera, at the Italian Comedy. The words are of Sèdaine and the Music of Gretri. It
is a delightful Piece, and the music like all the rest of Mr. Gretri's compositions is
admirable. We were early, but could get only very bad places; I never saw any Théatre more
crowded, and a vast number of persons could get no Places at all. Philippe play'd Richard,
and Clairval Blondel: this is a charming Character, and was very well acted. Mlle. Rosalie
in Blondel's guide, was interesting, as also Mlle. Colomb, in the Countess of Flanders. The
First Piece, is a translation of the Serva padrona, of the
famous Pergolezzi, but it is a very bad one. The music, is perhaps some of the best ever
composed, but the piece has no effect upon the Théatre. There are in this Piece only two
speaking Characters and one mute personage.
By Pierre Baurans, Paris, 1754, with music by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (Brenner, Bibliographical
List
).