A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Zemire et Azor

ZEMIRE ET AZOR. Fairy comedy in 4 acts; words by Marmontel, music by Grétry. Produced at Fontainebleau Nov. 9, 1771, and repeated at the Italiens, Paris, Dec. 16. The score is one of Grétry's best. It was revived, the libretto reduced by Scribe to 2 acts, and the score reinforced by Adam, on Feb. 21, 1832.

The story is that of 'Beauty and the Beast,' and has been set to music under the above title by Baumgarten (1775), Neefe—Beethoven's teacher—(1778), Tozzi (1792), Seyfried (1818), and Spohr (1819). The last, under the name of 'Azor and Zemira, or the Magic Rose,' was brought out at Covent Garden Theatre, April 5, 1831. The song, 'Rose softly blooming,' has remained a favourite piece to this day.

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