is already acute." Daniel Heartz has written that "the strengths of Philidor's art are already fully apparent in Blaise. His ability to characterize different personalities or actions simultaneously represents a breakthrough in opera, and not just in France." André Grétry asserted that Philidor was the first to create ensembles with contrasting rhythms, and that nothing like it had been heard in Italian theatres (where Grétry had studied in the 1760s). He credited Philidor's ability to produce these complex amalgams to his mastery of chess, and ranked Philidor on a level with Gluck "from the strength of the harmonic expression". Roles Synopsis The story concerns an attractive, but penniless, young couple and a predatory landlady and her husband. The landlady tries to buy the favours of the young man, while her husband attempts to seduce his wife – with farcical results! References Notes Sources Brenner, Clarence D. (1961). The Theatre Italien: Its Repertory, 1716–1793. Berkeley: University of California Press. Heartz, Daniel (2003). Music in European Capitals: The Galant Style, 1720–1780. New York: W. W. Norton. . Loewenberg, Alfred (1978). Annals of Opera 1597–1940 (third edition, revised). Totowa, New Jersey: Rowman and Littlefield. . Rushton, Julian (1992), "Blaise le savetier" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) Wild, Nicole; Charlton, David (2005). Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique Paris: répertoire 1762–1972. Sprimont, Belgium: Editions Mardaga. . Wolff, Stéphane (1953). Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900-1950). Paris: André Bonne. External links Libretto (by "Monsieur S...") at gallica.bnf.fr Bibliothèque nationale de France Illustration by Fragonard of a scene from Conte d'une chose arrivée à Château-Thierry Commentary on Blaise le Savetier by Julian Rushton, on Bampton Classical Opera website Operas Opéras comiques French-language operas 1759 operas Operas by François-André Danican Philidor Opera world premieres at the Opéra-Comique One-act operas Operas based on literature