About the work
Une folie is a two-act comédie en vers mêlée de musique (opéra comique) by Étienne-Nicolas Méhul, with a libretto by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly. It premiered on 5 April 1802 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, performed by the newly merged company of the Favart and Feydeau theatres.
Plot
The painter Cerberti wants to keep his pupil Armantine under his own supervision and away from her suitor Florival. With the help of his servant Carlin and a cunning disguise, Florival nonetheless gains access to Armantine and forces Cerberti to agree to their marriage.
Cultural significance
Despite some hostile reviews, Une folie became one of Méhul's greatest stage successes and remained in the repertoire with 212 documented performances by the time of his death.