About the work
"Le trésor supposé, ou le danger d'écouter aux portes" is a one-act opéra comique by Étienne-Nicolas Méhul to a libretto by François-Benoît Hoffman. It premiered on 29 July 1802 at the Paris Opéra-Comique (Théâtre Feydeau).
Plot
The penniless Dorval loves the niece of the miserly, wealthy Géronte. To persuade him to buy a particular house, his servant invents a tale of treasure buried inside it. The ruse is exposed, but Géronte relents in the end and allows the marriage.
Cultural significance
With eleven performances in its first season and nine more by 1804, the opera had only modest success, followed by a brief revival in 1821. A curious historical footnote: the overture uses the same tune later known as "Happy Birthday to You". Though admired by Beethoven and Weber, most of Méhul's comic operas fell into obscurity after his death.