Bellérophon
# Bellérophon

Bellérophon is an opera with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Thomas Corneille and Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle first performed by the Opéra at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris on 31 January 1679.

The libretto is based on Hesiod's Theogony. The opera played for nine months and was one of Lully's greatest successes.

## Roles

| Cast | Voice type | Premiere, 31 January 1679 (Conductor: - ) |
| - | - | - |
| Apollon (prologue) | bass | François Beaumavielle |
| Pan (prologue) | baritone | Arnoul |
| Bacchus (prologue) | tenor | Roy |
| Bellérophon | haute-contre | Bernard Clédière |
| Sténobée | soprano | de Saint-Christophe |
| Philonoé | soprano | Marie Aubry |
| Argie | mezzo-soprano | Bony |
| Pallas | mezzo-soprano | de La Prée |
| Jobate | baritone | Jean Gaye |
| Amisodar | bass | Nouveau |
| Pythie | tenor | Roy |
| Sacrificial priest | bass | Pulvigny |

## Synopsis

The queen Sténobée (soprano), spurned by Bellérophon (tenor) who loves the princess Philonoé (soprano), has the magician Amisodar (bass) turn the garden into a barren desert and summon a chimera which terrorizes the country of Lycia. Apollo (tenor) appears and all is solved.

## Modern performances

The first performance in modern times was by Les Talens Lyriques conducted by Christophe Rousset at the Festival of Beaune, 24 July 2010. It was followed by a two performances in Paris, the first of which was recorded and released in 2011 by the record label Aparté.

## Recording

* Bellérophon Cyril Auvity, Ingrid Perruche, Céline Scheen, Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset (Aparté, 2 CDs, 2011)

## Sources

* ↑ Rosow, Lois; McClymonds, Marita P. (2002). "Bellerophon". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.O011502. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
* ↑ "Album Lully : Bellérophon, Christophe Rousset | Qobuz: Download and streaming in high quality".
* Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Bellérophon". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
* 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)
