Grétry, André-Ernest-Modeste (11 February 1741, Liège; 24 September 1813, Montmorency), composer, was the son of a violinist at the collegiate church of Saint-Denis in his native city, where he started his musical career in the choir at age seven. His choirmaster was a bully, and the boy was happy to escape from him at age 12 to continue singing and studying with a more humane director. It was at this time that young Grétry heard theatrical music for the first time, when an Italian troupe…