Gretry's opera, premiered in Paris 1790, is one of the first operas about Russian emperor Peter 1. Despite the fact that there are real historical characters in the comic opera, it reminds a fairy tale. There are no negative characters here, no one performs improper deeds, Virtue, Friendship and Sincerity are glorified.
Andre Gretry has been described as the 'Moliere of music'. He studied in Rome an later settled in Paris, and the multiple influences he absorbed over these two periods of his life van be keenly felt in his music. He is mainly known for his opera-comique works, of which there are over 50.