Composer

:

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Publication Date

:

1686

First Performance

:

Sep 6, 1686

Average_duration

:

106:21

Movement_count

:

54

Movement ....

Acis et Galatée is an opera composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully in 1686. The plot is based on the Greek myth of Acis and Galatea, which tells the story of a love affair between the nymph Galatea and the shepherd Acis, who is killed by the jealous cyclops Polyphemus. The opera is divided into five acts and features a libretto by Philippe Quinault. The first act introduces the main characters and sets the scene for the story. Galatea is in love with Acis, but Polyphemus also desires her. The second act sees Polyphemus attempt to win Galatea's affections, but she rejects him. In the third act, Polyphemus becomes jealous of Acis and kills him with a boulder. Galatea mourns Acis's death in the fourth act, but he is resurrected as a river god in the final act. Acis et Galatée premiered at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 6, 1686. It was a great success and was subsequently performed at the Paris Opéra and other venues throughout France. The opera features Lully's signature style of French Baroque music, which is characterized by its use of dance rhythms and elaborate vocal ornamentation. The movements of Acis et Galatée include a prologue, five acts, and an epilogue. The prologue features a chorus of shepherds and nymphs who sing of the joys of love and nature. The five acts each feature a series of arias, recitatives, and choruses that advance the plot and develop the characters. The epilogue features a final chorus that celebrates the triumph of love over jealousy and death. Overall, Acis et Galatée is a masterpiece of French Baroque opera that showcases Lully's skill as a composer and Quinault's talent as a librettist. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes of love, jealousy, and redemption.

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