Grand Maitre de Valmont, born in Paris in the year 1684, was a distinguished French actor and theater director. He began his career as an apprentice to the actors Robert Dubuisson and Claude Moureau at the Comédie-Française. He then went on to perform with the Théâtre de la Foire, where he took on the lead role in numerous plays.
In 1713, Grand Maitre de Valmont became the director of the Théâtre de la Foire. His tenure was successful and many of his productions were highly praised. He was known for his skillful direction and for his ability to bring out the best in his actors. During this period, he also wrote several plays, such as “L’École des Femmes” and “Le Mariage de Figaro”.
In 1733, Grand Maitre de Valmont was appointed director of the Comédie-Italienne. During his time there, he was able to introduce a new style of opera buffa, which was highly acclaimed. He was also able to attract some of the best musicians and singers of the day, such as Francesco Pasquale and Pietro Guglielmi.
Grand Maitre de Valmont's career was not without controversy. In 1744, he was accused of writing a play that was considered blasphemous by the Catholic Church. He was eventually cleared of the charges, but the incident caused some damage to his reputation.
Despite this setback, Grand Maitre de Valmont continued to be a successful director and actor. He also began to write and direct his own plays, such as “Les Trois Mousquetaires” and “La Grande Dame de Fer”.
Grand Maitre de Valmont was one of the most influential directors of the 18th century. He was an innovator in both his productions and his writing, and his works continue to be performed and appreciated to this day. He died in 1753 at the age of 69.
