Proserpine (Lully) Explained

Proserpine (Proserpina) is an opera with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Philippe Quinault first performed at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 3 February 1680.

Roles

!Role!Voice type!Premiere cast, 3 February 1680
Prologue
La Paix (Peace)sopranoCatherine Ferdinand
La Félicité (Felicitas)sopranoMlle Rebel
L'Abondance (Abundantia)sopranoMlle Puvigné (or Puvigny)
La Discorde (Discord)tenor (en travesti)Puvigné (or Puvigny)
La Victoire (Victoria)sopranoClaude Ferdinand
Tragédie
Pluton (Pluto)bassJean Gaye
Ascalaphe (Ascalaphus), son of Acheron, confidant of PlutonbassAntoine Morel
ProserpinesopranoClaude Ferdinand
Cérès (Ceres)sopranoMlle de Saint-Christophe (or Saint-Christophle)
JupiterbassGodonesche
Alphée (Alpheus)haute-contreBernard Cledière
Aréthuse (Arethusa)sopranoCatherine Ferdinand
Mercure (Mercury)tenorLangeais
Cyané, a Sicilian nymph, confidante of CérèssopranoMlle Bony
Crinise, god of the Sicilian river Crinisusbasse-tailleArnoul
Furies2 tenors and a basse-taille(?)Claude Desvoyes, Puvigny (or Puvigné) and Le Maire
A blessed spiritsoprano

Synopsis

Based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, the plot centers around the abduction of Proserpine by Pluton, with side plots concerning Cérès's love for Jupiter and the love intrigue between Alphée and Aréthuse.

Recordings

Further reading