IL PERSEO DI LULLI (1682, Parigi). Perseo: L. G. Dumesny, tenore

Speranza

"Il Perseo" is a "tragédie lyrique" with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Philippe Quinault, first performed in 1682 at the Paris Opéra.

Role Voice type Premiere cast, 1682

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Perseo --- son of Jupiter and Danaë ---- haute-contre Louis Gaulard Dumesny
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Andromède daughter of Céphée soprano
Phinée, brother of Céphée baritone François Beaumavielle
Mérope, sister of Cassiope soprano Marie Le Rochois
Phronime, attendant of Virtue
Mégathyme, attendant of Virtue
Virtue
Fortune
Céphée, King of Ethiopia bass
Cassiope, Queen of Ethiopia mezzo-soprano
Amphimédon, an Ethiopian
Corite, an Ethiopian
Proténor, an Ethiopian
The Cyclopes
Mercure haute-contre
Méduse, a Gorgon tenor
Euryale, a Gorgon tenor, descant above Méduse
Sténone, a Gorgon baritone
Idas, a Sailor in Céphée's navy
High priest of Hymenée (wedding priest)
High priest
Vénus
L'amour (Love)
L'hymen (Marriage)
Triton, Neptune's henchman
Followers of Virtue and Fortune, followers of Cassiope, young persons chosen for the games, spectators,
warrior nymphs, infernal deities, phantoms, Ethiopians, Tritons and Nereides, victorious heroes (chorus/ballet)

The plot concerns the love between Perseo and Andromeda, who is already betrothed to Phinée, while Mérope loves Persée.

Perseo is able to triumph and win Andromeda by overcoming supernatural enemies, including the Gorgon Medusa, using weapons he is granted by the gods.

Phinée's jealousy pits him against Perseo, leading to the ultimate confrontation. Mérope allies with Phinée at first, but has a change of heart.

DVDA 2004 production by Opera Atelier performed live at the Elgin Theatre under the direction of Marshall Pynkoski and conducted by Hervé Niquet in Toronto is the first home video release of the opera. It features Cyril Auvity (Persée), Marie Lenormand (Andromeda), Stephanie Novacek (Cassiope), Monica Whicher (Mérope), Olivier Laquerre (Céphée/Méduse (the latter transposed from F to E-flat)), Alain Coutomber (Phinée), and Colin Ainsworth (Mercure). The designer was Gérard Gauci and the choreographer was Jeannette Zingg. Marc Stone directed the television production.

The New Grove French Baroque Masters, ed. Graham Sadler (Macmillan, 1986)
The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
Le magazine de l'opéra baroque by Jean-Claude Brenac (in French)
Description, plot summary, original text of "Persée" from the University of North Texas Libraries.
Persée: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.