The time has come for a new version, thanks to Leonardo García-Alarcón and Angelin Preljocaj, to restore the wonders of Atys, the joy of captivating audiences with so much charm and emotion.
The two myths of Atys come together in this production. This masterpiece by Lully and Quinault, described as the ‘King's Opera’ when it was first performed before the court in 1676, was also, three centuries later, one of the highlights of the rediscovery of the great French Baroque operas, thanks to the production by William Christie and Jean-Marie Villégier, which was performed twice at the Royal Opera of Versailles.
Atys is a paroxysm of nascent lyric art. It places love at the heart of the plot and, for the first time in Lully's work, his hero dies on stage, provoking a remarkable lament capable of bringing tears to even the most hardened heart. Lully's incredible music magnifies Philippe Quinault's splendid tragic text, creating their first joint masterpiece.
Atys is a paroxysm of nascent lyric art. It places love at the heart of the plot and, for the first time in Lully's work, his hero dies on stage, provoking a remarkable lament capable of bringing tears to even the most hardened heart. Lully's incredible music magnifies Philippe Quinault's splendid tragic text, creating their first joint masterpiece.
