Les deux avares

André Grétry

Les deux avares ("The Two Misers"), is an opéra bouffon in two acts written by André Grétry at age 27 in 1770 to a French libretto by Fenouillot de Falbaire and German version by Herbert Trantow.

Performance history

It was first performed at Fontainebleau on 27 October 1770.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, October 27, 1770 (Conductor: - )
Henriette, Gripon’s niece	soprano
Madelon, Gripon’s housekeeper	mezzo-soprano
Gripon, a dodgy banker	tenor
Martin, speculator	baritone
Jérôme, Martin’s clerk	tenor
Ali, Captain of the Janissaries	bass
Mustapha	tenor
Osman, second commander	Non-singing role
A messenger	Non-singing role
The Janissaries

Synopsis

Place: A public square in Smyrna

Time: 18th century

Martin, a speculator, and Gripon, a dodgy banker, are two greedy villains who collaborate to find treasure in the pyramid in Smyrna. When Martin tells Gripon that there are no treasures in the pyramid, he doesn't believe him and thinks Martin tried to cheat him. He leaves Martin locked in the pyramid. Jérôme and Henriette fall in love with each other but the only way out for their love is to escape from both Martin and Gripon. However, they are delayed by various misfortunes. Gripon later finds out that he has been cheated and it is he of all people who conclude that there is no honesty in the world any more.