Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Jean-Baptiste Lully

Jean-Baptiste Lully was the most influential French composer of the 17th Century, a key figure in the court of Louis XIV. This week, Donald Macleod explores how Lully rose from humble origins in Italy to become the most powerful musician in France, a story of lies, ambition and intrigue.

Music Featured:

Phaëton, LWV 61, Overture
Le Carnaval, LWV 52, Overture
Le Carnaval, LWV 52 (Air “Son dottor per occasion”)
Dies Irae, LWV 64/1
Dances - Les noces de village, LWV 19 (excerpts)
Psyché, LWV 56 (Finale)
Atys, LWV 53, Overture
Anon - Les Nuits Ballet: Ouverture
Ballet royal de Flore, LWV 40 (excerpt)
Ballet royal des amours déguisés, LWV 21 (Air “Ah! Rinaldo, e dove sei?”)
L’amour malade, LWV 8
Jubilate Deo - Motet de la paix, LWV 77/16
Alcidiane, LWV 9, Ouverture
Armide, LWV 71 (End of Act II)
Ballet Naissance de Venus, LWV 27 (excerpt)
Le Triomphe de l’amour, LWV 59 (excerpts)
Miserere, LWV 25
Les Plaisirs de l'île enchantée, LWV 22 (Divertisment No 5)
Le Carrousel de Monseigneur, LWV 72 (Marches Militaires)
La Princesse d’Elide, LWV 22 (Quand l’amour a nos yeux)
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, LWV 43 (excerpt)
Psyché, LWV 45, Act I “Deh, piangete al pianto mio”
Cadmus et Hermione, LWV 49 (Marche pour le sacrifice; ‘C'est vainement que l'on espère’)
Te Deum, LWV 55 (Sinfonie and Te deum laudamus)
Thesée, LWV 51 (end of Act V)
La Bourgeois Gentilhomme, LWV 43 (La cérémonie turque)
Armide, LWV 71, Overture
De Profundis, LWV 62 (Requiem aeternum)

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00137m6

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z