Composer

:

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1678

Publication Date

:

1720

First Performance

:

Apr 19, 1678

Average_duration

:

172:58

Movement_count

:

60

Movement ....

'Psyché' is an opera composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully in 1671. The libretto was written by Molière, Pierre Corneille, and Philippe Quinault. The opera is based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche, which tells the story of a mortal woman, Psyche, who falls in love with the god of love, Cupid. The plot of the opera follows Psyche's journey as she tries to win the love of Cupid, who has been ordered by his mother, Venus, to make Psyche fall in love with a monster. The opera is divided into five acts and features a prologue. The prologue introduces the characters and sets the stage for the story. The first act begins with Psyche's father, a king, consulting an oracle about his daughter's future. The oracle predicts that Psyche will marry a monster, which causes the king to send her away to be sacrificed. However, Cupid falls in love with Psyche and saves her from the sacrifice. The second act sees Psyche living in Cupid's palace, where she is visited by her jealous sisters. The sisters convince Psyche to look at Cupid while he is sleeping, which angers Cupid and causes him to leave Psyche. The third act sees Psyche searching for Cupid, and she eventually finds him in the underworld. The fourth act sees Psyche completing a series of tasks set by Venus in order to win back Cupid's love. The final act sees Cupid and Psyche reunited and married. 'Psyché' premiered on January 19, 1671, at the Palais Royal in Paris. The opera was a huge success and was performed over 40 times in its first year. 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 opera also features a large orchestra, which includes strings, winds, and percussion. Overall, 'Psyché' is a beautiful and enchanting opera that tells a timeless story of love and sacrifice. Its intricate plot, stunning music, and elaborate staging make it a masterpiece of French Baroque opera.

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