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.[1] The opera played for nine months and was one of Lully's greatest successes.
| 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 |
| soprano | de Saint-Christophe | |
| Philonoé | soprano | Marie Aubry |
| Argie | mezzo-soprano | Bony |
| Pallas | mezzo-soprano | de La Prée |
| Jobate | Jean Gaye | |
| Amisodar | bass | Nouveau |
| Pythie | tenor | Roy |
| Sacrificial priest | bass | Pulvigny |
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.
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.[2]