Servais and Grégoir - Fra Diavolo, 2me Grand Duo Brillant (Urtext edition)

Perhaps the most widely known cello and piano opera fantasy is Chopin and Franchomme’s Grand Duo Concertant on themes from Robert le Diable. A fine but lesser-known example of the genre is Deuxième grand duo brillant, based on Daniel Auber’s opéra comique Fra Diavolo and composed by Joseph Grégoir and François Servais. In this work, the piano and cello are treated as equal partners, engaging in a rich dialogue closer in spirit to a sonata than a simple accompanied showpiece.

The cello writing is highly virtuosic, comparable to Servais’s more demanding works such as Souvenir de Spa and Carnaval de Venise. To assist performers, Servais included ossia passages in several challenging sections, all of which are preserved in this edition. The work is dedicated to Mademoiselle Louise Cotelle.

The Duo draws on several numbers from Auber’s opera, including Diavolo’s Act III aria, Lorenzo’s romance “Pour toujours, disait-elle,” and Milord’s couplets “Je voulais bien.” Auber’s own metronome markings provide useful guidance, though performers may need flexibility in the more virtuosic variation passages and closing section.

ASTA Level: 6