| Jean-Baptiste Lully |
|---|
|
Operas
|
Acis et Galatée (Acis and Galatea) is an opera by Jean-Baptiste Lully. Unlike most of his operas, which are designated tragédies en musique, Lully called this work a pastorale-héroïque, because it was on a pastoral theme and had only three acts (plus a prologue) compared to the usual five. Otherwise, there is little musically or dramatically to distinguish it from Lully's tragédies.
Lully did not work with his usual collaborator, Philippe Quinault, because he was no longer doing theatrical work. Jean Galbert de Campistron wrote the French libretto after the story in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The same story was also to inspire a dramatic work by Handel, Acis and Galatea. The opera was commissioned by Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme in honor of Louis, le Grand Dauphin.
Contents |
It was premiered at the Château d'Anet on September 6, 1686 (without machines) and later at the Académie Royale de Musique on September 17, 1686.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, September 6, 1686 |
|---|---|---|
| Galatea, a sea nymph | soprano | Marie Le Rochois |
| Acis, a mortal | haute-contre | Louis Gaulard Dumesny |
| Poliphème (Polyphemus), a monster | baritone or basse-taille | Jean Dun (called Dun père) |
| Neptune | bass |
The story is of a love triangle between the three main characters—Acis, Galatea, and Poliphème. Poliphème murders Acis out of jealousy, but Acis is revived and turned into a river by Neptune.[1]