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Grétry-Statue

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Credit :

The statue of André Grétry is the work of Guillaume Geefs. Made of bronze, it was initially installed in 1842 on place du 20-Août. It was only twenty years after that it was moved to its location in front of the Royal Theatre. Although the composer was buried in Paris, in the Père-Lachaise cemetery, his heart features in the base of this statue. Whilst the name of Grétry is less well-known today, in his time he was a composer very much in vogue. Having played at the court of the French king, he rubbed shoulders with Rousseau and Voltaire, the latter of whom dedicated a quatrain to him, concerning one of his works which was not well received by the court : The court jeered at your talents Paris applauded your wonders Grétry, the ears of the Great Are often great ears.