"Armide", tragèdie lyrique en 5 actes (LWV 71)
N.Poussin. "Armide et Renaud"The most popular Lully's opera - "Armide et Renaud" (or simply "Armide") - was written in 1686. As said one of Lully's contemprorary: "Piece of utmost beauty, were the beauty grows from act to act". Libretto of this famous tragèdie lyrique was written by Phillippe Quinault on the plot of one episode of Tasso's epic poem "Unfettered Jerusalem". The action takes place in the East in the time of crusades. Crusaders' army marches into the estates of queen of Damascus sorceress Armide. Vainly she promises to marry the one who will repulse an enemies' attack, - all in vain, infidels' forces are at the gates of eastern capital. Then with the help of her magic Armide allures the leader of crusaders young knight Renaud into the magical gardens, were enchanted maidens by marvellous singing dip the youth into a profound sleep. The queen appears to defeat the enemy. But beauty of the foreigner gives birth to unexpected love in her heart, and passions restrain the dictate of revenge. Meanwhile the charms of the sorceress continue to run. Renaud wakes up, and reciprocal feeling grips him. But all of sudden, his brothers-in-arm come and entreat Renaud to leave the gardens of Armide and come back to his exploits. And, obeing to his duty, he is preparing for a journey. Queen beseeches her beloved not to leave her, but her entreaties are useless. Renaud with the knights leave. Flown into a rage Armide commits her kingdom to a destruction.
1. Ouverture
2. II act, scene 5: Prelude
3. III act, scene 1: Air of Armide "Ah! Si la libertè..."
4. III act, scene 3: Air of Armide "Venez, venez..."
5. V act, scene 2: Passacaille
6. V act, scene 5: Final air of Armide "Le perfide Renauld me fuit..."
2003 Vladimir Grudin