This latest chapter in Christophe Rousset’s traversal of the complete operas of Lully sees him and Les Talens Lyrique finally tackle Atys, “the King’s Opera”, according to Rousset “a tale which deeply influenced the Baroque movement – composers, performers and audiences alike.”

Indeed, it is a story that continues to be influential today, and as Rousset recognises when reflecting on his tackling of one Lully masterpiece after another, “all my years in contact with lyrical tragedies have proven to me that the journey is arduous yet possible: the veil of Louis XIV formality is torn apart to reveal a human and deeply moving drama.”

Atys (1676) is a tragedy in a prologue and five acts to a libretto by Philippe Quinault. At its heart are the travails of hapless lovers Atys (Reinoud Van Mechelen) and Sangaride (Marie Lys). Atys and Sangaride, the latter being betrothed to the Phrygian King Celenus (Philippe Estèphe), confess their love for each other. Compelled by love for Atys, the goddess Cybele (Ambroisine Bré) chooses him as her high priest over Celenus, but soon...