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Joseph Quesnel (1746-1809), "Colas et Colinette", manuscript score, 1789, 1st booklet, p. 1-20, 30,4 x 24,4 cm, 2nd booklet, p. 21-30, 30,2 x 24,5 cm Québec, Musée de la civilisation, fonds d'archives du Séminaire de Québec, fonds Verreau, P 32/45/2. Photo Robert Derome.
On 31 December 1789, the Montreal Gazette announced the Théâtre de Société's third production. On Thursday, 14 January 1790, Molière's Le médecin malgré lui was performed followed by Colas et Colinette ou le Bailli dupé, Canada's first opera, by Joseph Quesnel. It is, in fact, a genre created from the 18th-century comic opera: a comedy in prose which includes ariettas and verses sung by the main characters. This style, derived from Parisian side-shows, was highly popular between 1720 and 1760. Quesnel had acquired excellent musical and literary training before settling in Canada.
