Jean-Baptiste Lully, originally Giovanni Battista Lulli (1632–1687), was a pivotal figure in the music of the French Baroque era who rose from Italian origins to reign as one of the most influential composers at the court of King Louis XIV in France. Born in Florence, Lully moved to France as a teenager and quickly ingratiated himself with the French royalty. With his prowess in music, dance, and instrumental innovation, Lully secured the position of court composer to the king, significantly shaping the French operatic and ballet landscape with his works.

Lully's music, characterized by its grandeur and powerful use of the orchestra, lent itself well to the opulent court performances designed to glorify the Sun King's reign. His compositions, including notable operas like "Armide" (LWV 71) and "Thésée," as well as the ballet "Ballet royal de la Naissance de Vénus," established him as the master of French Baroque opera and instrumental music. His influence is evident in the successive generations of composers, and his works continue to be performed and celebrated, as shown by recent releases such as "Lully: Acis et Galatée, LWV 73 (Live)" and the organ-centric "Lully: à l'orgue de La Chaise-Dieu." Lully's contribution to the development of the French style and the orchestral suite truly cemented his place as one of the great composers of the 17th century.

Genres

Baroque

Classical

Early Music

French Baroque

French Opera

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Marc-Antoine Charpentier

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George Frideric Handel

Antonio Vivaldi

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François Couperin

Alessandro Scarlatti

Heinrich Schütz

Thomas Morley

Latest Release

Lully: Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, LWV 43: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs

Jean-Baptiste Lully•

Les Arts Florissants•

William Christie

Single - Released September 6, 2024