Critics in the 18th century regarded Armide as Lully's masterpiece. It continues to be well-regarded, featuring some of the best-known music in French baroque opera and being arguably ahead of its time in its psychological interest. Unlike most of his operas, Armide concentrates on the sustained psychological development of a character — not Renaud, who spends most of the opera under Armide's spell, but Armide, who repeatedly tries without success to choose vengeance over love.
| Librettist | Philippe Quinault (based on Torquato Tasso's poem La Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered)) |
| Premiered | 1686, February 15th (Théâtre du Palais-Royal) in Paris, France |
| First published | 1686 |
| Dedicated to | Louis XIV, King of France |
| Type | Tragédie en musique (Musical Tragedy) |
| Catalogue | LWV 71 |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Chorus/Choir
Orchestra Voice (Soprano) - La Gloire [Glory] Voice (Soprano) - La Sagesse [Wisdom] Voice (Soprano) - Armide, magician, niece of Hidraot Voice (Haute-contre) - Renaud, a knight Voice (Soprano) - Phénice, a confidante of Armide Voice (Soprano) - Sidonie, a confidante of Armide Voice (Baritone) - Basse-Taille ; Hidraot, magician, King of Damascus Voice (Baritone) - Basse-Taille ; Aronte, guard of Armide's captive knights Voice (Baritone) - Taille ; Artémidor, a knight Voice (Baritone) - Taille ; La Haine [Hatred] Voice (Baritone) - Basse-Taille ; Ubalde, a knight Voice (Haute-contre) - The Danish Knight, companion of Ubalde Voice (Soprano) - A Demon in the form of a Water Nimph Voice (Soprano) - A Demon in the form of Lucinde, the Danish Knight's beloved Voice (Soprano) - A Demon in the form of Melisse, Ubalde's beloved |
| Autotranslations beta |
Jean-Baptiste Lully: Armide, LWV 71 Jean-Baptiste Lully: Armide, LWV 71 Jean-Baptiste Lully: Armide, LWV 71 |