Arts Florissants/Christie - Jean-Baptiste Lully: Atys - Libretto by Philippe Quinault

Jean-Baptiste Lully�s Atys, a trag�die en musique, became known as the �king�s opera� due to Louis XIV�s fondness for it. The work stands as a testament to the Sun King�s courtly refinement, as well as his moves to make France the centre of European artistic culture. The opera�s themes of romantic dilemmas and ultimate tragedy, set amidst the poetic atmosphere of Ovid�s classical mythology, create the perfect vehicle for a narrative filled with dramatic intensity combined with a myriad of moving and expressive arias and duets. William Christie conducts this acclaimed production � hailed by The New York Times as being �as satisfying as it is bold�.