Lully: Proserpine Les Talens Lyriques & Christophe Rousset

• Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632 - 1687): Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue:
• 1 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Ouverture 03:28
• 2 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Héros, dont la valeur étonne l’univers (La Paix et sa suite) 02:09
• 3 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Air 01:16
• 4 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Soupirez, triste Paix, malheureuse captive (La Discorde et sa suite, La Paix et sa suite) 01:58
• 5 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Bruit de trompettes. Ce bruit que la Victoire en ces lieux fait entendre (La Discorde) 00:42
• 6 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Air pour les trompettes. Venez aimable Paix, le vainqueur vous appelle (La Victoire et sa suite, La Paix et sa suite, La Discorde et sa suite) 02:17
• 7 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Orgueilleuse Victoire, est-ce à toi d’entreprendre (La Discorde, La Victoire et sa suite, la Paix et sa suite) 02:11
• 8 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Ô cruel esclavage ! (La Discorde et sa suite) 01:34
• 9 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Prélude. Le Vainqueur est comblé de gloire (La Victoire et sa suite, La Paix et sa suite) 01:52
• 10 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Gavotte 00:29
• 11 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Menuet. Il est temps que l’Amour nous enchaîne (La Félicité, L'Abondance) 01:28
• 12 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Prélude. On a quitté les armes (La Paix, Chœur) 02:48
• 13 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Menuet. Que l’Amour est doux à suivre (La Félicité) 01:01
• 14 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: On a quitté les armes (Chœur) 01:32
• 15 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Prologue: Ouverture (II) 03:33
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 1:
• 16 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 1: Goûtons dans ces aimables lieux (Cérès, Cyané, Crinise) 03:00
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 2:
• 17 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 2: Ritournelle. Mercure, quel dessein vous fait ici descendre ? (Cérès, Mercure) 06:02
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 3:
• 18 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 3: La Phrygie a besoin de mes dons précieux (Cérès, Mercure) 03:51
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 4:
• 19 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 4: Ritournelle. Vaine fierté, faible rigueur (Aréthuse) 04:45
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 5:
• 20 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 5: Arrêtez, nymphe trop sévère (Alphée, Aréthuse) 03:14
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 6:
• 21 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 6: Prélude. Cérès va nous ôter sa divine présence (Proserpine, troupe de divinités et de peuples de Sicile) 02:35
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 7:
• 22 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 7: Ritournelle. Vous qui voulez pour moi signaler votre zèle (Cérès) 01:45
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 8:
• 23 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 8: Célébrons la victoire (Proserpine, Aréthuse, troupe de divinités et de peuples de Sicile) 02:25
• 24 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 8: Premier Air 01:14
• 25 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I Scene 8: Second Air 00:37
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I:
• 26 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act I: Prélude. Ce palais va tomber ; ô dieux ! la terre s’ouvre (Proserpine, un suivant de Proserpine, Chœur) 02:13
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 1:
• 27 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 1: Ritournelle. Jupiter a dompté les Géants pour jamais (Crinise, Alphée) 05:04
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 2:
• 28 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 2: Venez goûter ici le doux air qu’on respire (Alphée, Ascalaphe) 03:09
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 3:
• 29 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 3: Amants qui n’êtes point jaloux (Alphée) 01:47
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 4:
• 30 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 4: Ritournelle. Ingrate, écoutez-moi, je ne veux plus me plaindre (Alphée, Aréthuse) 03:58
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 5:
• 31 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 5: Est-il vrai que mon cœur soit en votre puissance (Aréthuse, Ascalaphe, Alphée) 02:38
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 6:
• 32 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 6: Demeurez Aréthuse, Alphée, éloignez-vous (Pluton, Aréthuse) 02:41
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 7:
• 33 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 7: Ritournelle. J’ai peine à concevoir d’où vient le trouble extrême (Ascalaphe, Pluton) 03:27
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 8:
• 34 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 8: Les beaux jours et la paix (Choeur des nymphes, Pluton) 00:37
• 35 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 8: Premier Air. Que notre vie doit faire envie – Belles fleurs, charmant ombrage (Proserpine, chœur des nymphes) 05:04
• 36 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 8: Second Air. Quand un cœur est trop sensible - Que notre vie doit faire envie (Proserpine, chœur des nymphes) 02:34
• 37 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 8: Nous reverrons bientôt Cérès en ces beaux lieux (Proserpine, chœur des nymphes) 00:46
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 9:
• 38 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 9: Infernales divinités, secondez mon amour (Pluton, Proserpine, Cyané, les divinités infernales) 01:18
• 39 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act II Scene 9: Reprise du Premier air pour entracte 01:10
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 1:
• 40 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 1: Proserpine, répondez-nous (Troupe des nymphes et des dieux des bois) 01:53
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 2:
• 41 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 2: N’aurais-je point innocemment (Aréthuse, Alphée) 02:53
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 3:
• 42 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 3: Cérès revient ! ah quelle peine ! (Aréthuse, Alphée, troupes de nymphes et de dieux des bois) 01:33
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 4:
• 43 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 4: Prélude. Je vais revoir ma fille, elle est dans ces campagnes – Ritournelle. J'ai rendu les humains heureux (Cérès) 03:00
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 5:
• 44 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 5: Ma fille n’est pas avec vous ? (Cérès, chœur des dieux des bois, deux nymphes) 02:13
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 6:
• 45 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 6: Je ressens vos douleurs, et j’en suis trop atteinte (Cyané, Cérès, chœur) 01:18
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 7:
• 46 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 7: Ritournelle. Ô malheureuse mère ! (Cérès, troupe de nymphes et de dieux des bois) 04:11
• 47 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 7: Ritournelle. Après un si sensible outrage (Cérès) 00:34
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 8:
• 48 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 8: Air 02:04
• 49 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 8: Que tout se ressente de la fureur que je sens (Cérès, chœur) 01:32
• 50 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act III Scene 8: Reprise de l’Air pour entracte 00:36
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 1:
• 51 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 1: Air de flûtes 01:24
• 52 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 1: Loin d’ici, loin de nous (Les ombres heureuses) 06:06
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 2:
• 53 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 2: Prélude. Ma chère liberté que vous aviez d'attraits (Proserpine) 02:45
• 54 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 2: Aimez qui vous aime (Ascalaphe, Proserpine, chœur des ombres) 02:40
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 3:
• 55 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 3: Est-ce une illusion dont le charme m’abuse (Proserpine, Aréthuse, Alphée, Ascalaphe) 04:52
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 4:
• 56 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 4: Prélude. Venez-vous contre moi défendre un téméraire (Proserpine, Pluton) 06:35
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 5:
• 57 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 5: Que l’on suspende ici les tourments éternels (Pluton, ombres heureuses, divinités infernales) 02:08
• 58 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 5: Premier Air 00:56
• 59 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 5: Second Air. C’est assez de regrets - Reprise du Second air (Choeur des ombres heureuses) 02:09
• 60 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 5: Dans les Enfers tout rit, tout chante (Choeur des divinités infernales et des ombres heureuses) 00:45
• 61 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act IV Scene 5: Reprise du Premier air pour entracte 00:42
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 1:
• 62 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 1: Prélude. Vous qui reconnaissez ma puissance suprême (Pluton, troupe de divinités infernales, les trois Juges des enfers, les trois Furies) 04:55
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 2:
• 63 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 2: Déserts écartés, sombres lieux (Cérès) 02:57
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 3:
• 64 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 3: Prélude. Quels abîmes se sont ouverts (Cérès, voix infernales) 01:13
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 4:
• 65 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 4: Ne m’apprendrez-vous point où ma fille peut être ? (Cérès, Aréthuse, Alphée) 03:38
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 5:
• 66 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 5: Ritournelle. Tous les dieux sont d’accord (Mercure, Cérès) 01:38
• Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 6:
• 67 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 6: Prélude 01:25
• 68 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 6: Cérès, que de vos pleurs le triste cours finisse - Que l'on enchaîne pour jamais (Jupiter, troupe des divinités célestes, de la terre, et infernales) 02:13
• 69 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 6: Premier air 01:34
• 70 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 6: Second air 01:12
• 71 Lully: Proserpine, LWV 58, Act V Scene 6: Que l’on enchaîne pour jamais (Jupiter, troupe des divinités célestes, de la terre, et infernales) 01:45
• Total Runtime 02:49:31

Info for Lully: Proserpine

Proserpine was composed in 1680 and marks the reunion of Lully and Quinault following the scandal surrounding Isis (1677). Set in the splendour of Saint-Germain, the work offers a mythological reflection on the Dauphin’s wedding. In it, Lully revolutionises his art: the orchestra becomes the driving force of the drama, whilst the voices gain in expressiveness. Under the baton of Christophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques bring this gem back to life, in which the fate of a captive queen and the splendour of restored peace are united in immortal harmony.

“This opera retales the famous story of the abduction of Proserpina. She is captured by the god Pluto and forced to marry him, thus splitting half her year between her husband and her mother Ceres. Lully and Quinault did not stop there with leading ladies, as they gave an important role to Arethusa, the beloved nymph of Alphée, whose plots are secondary but highly developed, and accompanied by absolutely magnificent music.

In fact, the orchestra is very much in demand in this work, unlike Atys for example, which is essentially an opera for continuo. So I’m delighted to reunite with Proserpine and that it will be our penultimate recording before the fulfilment of our project to record all of Lully’s operas, the last being Cadmus et Hermione.

Especially as the iconography is particularly developed on the theme, this is an opera from Lully’s “middle” period. I divide Lully’s creative periods into 3 distinct periods. His first period was marked by his continuo operas such as Alceste, Thésée and Atys, followed by his “middle period” in which Lully began to tackle more heroic themes, essentially drawn from mythology. In his last period, Lully developed the role of the orchestra much more, as in Roland and Armide, with a completely new dramaturgy in which the orchestra became one of the protagonists of the drama.” – Christophe Rousset

Marie Lys, soprano (Proserpine, Victory)
Veronique Gens, soprano (Ceres, Abundance)
Olivier Gourdy, bass (Pluton)
Jean-Sebastien Bou, baritone (Crinise)
Ambroisine Bre, mezzo-soprano (Arethusa, Peace)
Nick Pritchard, tenor (Crinise, Discord)
Choeur de Chambre de Namur
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset, conductor, harpsichord

Christophe Rousset
the founder of the Les Talens Lyriques and an internationally renowned harpsichordist, is a musician and an orchestral conductor inspired by a passion for opera and the rediscovery of the European musical heritage.

After harpsichord studies at La Schola Cantorum in Paris with Huguette Dreyfus, followed by the Conservatoire Royal in The Hague with Bob van Asperen (winning, at the age of 22, the prestigious First Prize in the 7th Bruges Harpsichord Competition), and followed in turn by the creation of his own ensemble, Les Talens Lyriques, in 1991, Christophe Rousset has a perfect grasp of the richness and diversity of the Baroque, Classical and Preromantic repertoires.

After initially attracting attention for his extraordinary talent as a harpsichordist, he soon made his mark as a conductor, with invitations from around the world to perform with his ensemble (Opéra de Paris, De Nederlandse Opera, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Salle Pleyel, Opéra de Lausanne, Teatro Real, Theater an der Wien, Opéra Royal de Versailles, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Barbican Centre, Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Aix-en-Provence and Beaune Festivals, to name but a few venues).

Alongside this, he has continued to pursue an active career as harpsichordist and chamber musician, performing and recording on the most beautiful period instruments. His complete performances of the works for harpsichord of F. Couperin, Rameau, d’Anglebert and Forqueray and various recordings of pieces by J. S. Bach (Partitas, Variations Goldberg, Concertos for harpsichord, English Suites, French Suites, Klavierbüchlein) are considered landmarks. His most recent recording of another musical monument by the German Cantor, the 2nd book of the Well-tempered Clavier (Aparté) – a recording made in the Château of Versailles on a Joannes Ruckers harpsichord (1628) – has been awarded a number of honours, including a “Choc” from Classica magazine and CD of the week from Britain’s Radio 3. The instruments of the Paris Museum of Music have also been entrusted to him for the recording of three CDs of music by Royer, Rameau and Froberger.

Teaching is also an aspect with major importance for Christophe Rousset, who conducts and organises master classes and academies for young people (Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, CNSMDs Paris, Académie d’Ambronay, Orchestre Français des Jeunes Baroques, Jeune Orchestre Atlantique, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, the Britten-Pears Orchestra) and he devotes himself with great energy, alongside the musicians of Les Talens Lyriques, to introducing young secondary school pupils in Paris and the surrounding region to the world of music.

Christophe also has a career as guest conductor (Liceu Barcelona, San Carlo Naples, La Scala Milan, Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Orquesta Nacional de España and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Orchestre du Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, among other orchestras) as well as the active pursuit of musical research, with the production of critical editions and the publication by Actes Sud of a study on Rameau in 2007.

Christophe Rousset has been awarded the French honours of Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur, Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Chevalier in the Ordre national du Mérite.

Booklet for Lully: Proserpine