Composer

:

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Publication Date

:

1682

First Performance

:

Apr 18, 1682

Average_duration

:

164:13

Movement_count

:

84

Movement ....

'Persée' is an opera composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, with a libretto by Philippe Quinault. It was first performed at the court of Louis XIV in Paris on April 18, 1682. The opera is based on the myth of Perseus, the Greek hero who slays the Gorgon Medusa and saves Andromeda from a sea monster. The plot of 'Persée' revolves around the love story of Persée, the son of Jupiter, and Andromède, the daughter of Céphée, king of Ethiopia. Andromède is promised in marriage to the sea monster, but Persée, with the help of the gods, slays the monster and saves her. The opera also features the jealous love of Mérope, the sister of Andromède, for Persée, and the revenge of Phinée, the rejected suitor of Andromède. 'Persée' is composed in five acts, with a prologue and an epilogue. The music is characterized by Lully's signature style of French Baroque opera, with its emphasis on dance and spectacle. The opera features a variety of musical forms, including airs, recitatives, and choruses, and showcases Lully's skill in orchestration and vocal writing. The premiere of 'Persée' was a great success, and the opera was performed numerous times during Lully's lifetime. It was also revived in the 18th century, and remains a popular work in the repertoire of Baroque opera today. The movements of 'Persée' include a prologue, five acts, and an epilogue. The prologue features a chorus of gods and goddesses, who praise the glory of Louis XIV and the power of the French monarchy. The five acts of the opera follow the story of Persée and Andromède, with each act featuring a variety of musical forms and dance numbers. The epilogue features a final chorus, in which the gods and goddesses celebrate the triumph of love and virtue over jealousy and revenge. Overall, 'Persée' is a masterpiece of French Baroque opera, showcasing Lully's skill as a composer and his ability to create a grand spectacle on the stage. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes of love, heroism, and the triumph of good over evil.

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