Composed: 1865
Premiered: 1686, Paris

Armide marks the culmination of Jean-Baptiste Lully’s influential career as a composer of French opera, being his last complete tragédie en musique created with librettist Philippe Quinault. The opera premiered on February 15, 1686, at the Palais-Royal in Paris after delays due to illness affecting both Lully and Louis XIV. Its debut was met with overwhelming success; Henry Baud de Sainte-Frique noted the large crowd and Lully’s earnings of 10,000 francs, highlighting its popularity from the outset.

Louis XIV selected the libretto’s subject, reflecting his increasing focus on morality following the death of the queen in 1683. While Lully’s earlier works often drew on mythology, Armide shifts towards medieval chivalric tales, aligning with themes familiar from classical narratives. The opera serves as a political allegory, with the virtuous Crusader Renaud symbolizing Catholic France and the enchanting Armide representing Protestantism.

The central narrative revolves around Armide’s fierce internal battle between love and vengeance. The 18th-century biographer Evrard Titon du Tillet emphasized the emotional complexity portrayed by Marie Le Rochois, who created the role. Lully’s music is noted for its intricate arrangements and expressive recitative, crafting a rich tapestry of sound that enhances the opera’s drama.

This edition draws from Lully’s original 1686 score, supplemented by surviving manuscript parts and early-18th-century materials. Additional percussion has been included for this performance, further enriching the dynamic orchestration that characterizes Armide, ensuring its lasting emotional impact on audiences.

Portions of this commentary first appeared in J. B. Lully, Oeuvres complètes, ser. 3, vol. 14 (Hildesheim, 2003).