Description
Lully : Atys
With Lully’s Atys, immerse yourself in a world where the splendor of Louis XIV’s court collides with the pain of relentless passions and impossible love. Rediscover this legendary production by Jean-Marie Villégier and William Christie.
Premiered in 1676 and known as the king’s opera due to Louis XIV’s deep admiration, Atys embodies the artistic grandeur of his court. Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, this opera delves into the anguish of love and the inescapable pull of destiny, offering a musical poetry that balances the elegance of tragedy with the fiery eloquence of its score. Arias and duets of rare expressiveness reveal the characters’ inner conflicts and the inevitability of their fate.
Jean-Marie Villégier’s staging, a milestone in the performance history of Atys, highlights the balance between baroque virtuosity and the unyielding depth of the most hidden human emotions. Each scene, crafted with meticulous precision, enhances the opulence of Louis XIV’s court while breathing a fascinating modernity into this mythological drama.
In the role of Cybèle, Stéphanie d’Oustrac delivers a performance of incandescent intensity, giving the character a haunting depth that oscillates between vulnerability and commanding authority. Her portrayal brings a profound emotional power to this already iconic production.
Joined by Les Arts Florissants, William Christie masterfully brings Lully’s rich orchestral and vocal textures to life, offering a radiant and impeccably precise interpretation. A trailblazer of the French Baroque repertoire, Christie transforms this production into an essential experience—a musical and visual masterpiece where art achieves timeless perfection.
Lully : Atys [DVD & Blu-ray]
Tragédie en musique in a prologue and five acts (1676)
Music : Jean-Baptiste Lully
Libretto : Philippe Quinault
Atys : Bernard Richter
Cybèle : Stéphanie d’Oustrac
Sangaride : Emmanuelle De Negri
Célénus : Nicolas Rivenq
Dancers : Compagnie Fêtes Galantes
with the exceptional participation of Gil Isoart (from Opéra national de Paris)
Les Arts florissants
Conductor : William Christie
Stage direction : Jean-Marie Villégier
Sets : Carlo Tommasi
Costumes : Patrice Cauchetier
Lighting design : Patrick Méeüs
Choreography : Béatrice Massin (after Francine Lancelot)
« The conductor William Christie and his ensemble, Les Arts Florissants, perform the score with a courtly edge that enhances the power (and vengefulness) of Stéphanie d’Oustrac’s take on the goddess Cybèle. And Christie’s players likewise lend a glow to the lovestruck (or mad) exultations present in Bernard Richter’s portrayal of the title character. » – NEW YORK TIMES
« Christie, his orchestra and chorus are on top form, if anything even crisper and more dramatically alert than on their famous 1987 recording. François Rousillon’s well-crafted video direction captures everything to a tee and the recorded sound is rich and full. » – LIMELIGHT
« A powerful and princely production worth the wait… Under Villégier’s elegantly restrained direction, these excellent singer-actors tread a fine line between sincerity and send-up… The sumptuous realm of the roi soleil is here brilliantly evoked. » – BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
HD recording : Opéra Comique | 05/2011
TV direction : François Roussillon
Release date : 01 September 2021
Distribution : Naxos Distribution
1 DVD
Reference : 2.110694-95
Barcode : 747313569458
Running time : 196 min.
Subtitles : FR / ENG / ITA / GER / JAP / KOR
Image : Color, 16/9, NTSC
Sound : PCM 2.0, DTS 5.1
Region code : 0
1 BLU-RAY
Reference : NBD0132V
Barcode : 730099013260
Running time : 196 min.
Subtitles : FR / ENG / ITA / GER / JAP / KOR
Image : Color, 16/9, Full HD
Sound : PCM 2.0, DTS HD Master audio 5.1
Region code : A, B, C
NAXOS Audiovisual, a production and distribution company and DVD label, offers a catalogue of over 3,000 major opera, ballet, concert and documentary productions. It exclusively distributes productions from the Royal Opera House as well as from renowned producers such as Bel Air, Idéale Audience, François Roussillon et Associés, PARS Media and Dynamic. The greatest artists of our time are captured in high-quality recordings of acclaimed productions from prestigious venues such as Covent Garden, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Teatro Real, the Opéra Comique, the Bavarian State Opera, the Verbier Festival and many more.
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With <strong>Lully’s <em>Atys</em></strong>, immerse yourself in a world where the grandeur of <strong>Louis XIV</strong>’s court collides with the torment of unyielding passions and impossible love. Rediscover this masterpiece in the legendary production by <strong>Jean-Marie Villégier</strong> and <strong>William Christie</strong>.){kind=link}