ARMIDA By Quinault 1686

About This Book

Armide is the libretto by Philippe Quinault (1635–1688) for the tragédie en musique composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, first performed at the Paris Opera on 15 February 1686. It was the last collaboration between Quinault and Lully, and many regard it as their finest. Based on episodes from Torquato Tasso's epic poem Jerusalem Delivered (1581), the opera tells the story of the sorceress Armide and the crusader knight Renaud, exploring the conflict between love and duty, enchantment and reason. Armide is among the masterworks of French Baroque opera and has been revived by leading ensembles in the early-music revival. The libretto is in the public domain.

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