"Atys", tragèdie lyrique en 5 actes (LWV 53)
H.Gissey. Costumes: (1) Cybèle; (2) Sangar (god of river, Sangaride's father)."Atys" - another wide-famed Lully's tragèdie lyrique. It was written in 1676 on Phillippe Quinault's libretto. Action takes place in the Ancient Greece. Young hero Atys and young nymph Sangaride love each other. But Sangaride is promised to the king Celenus, friend of Atys. This bothers him. The great godess Cybele elects Atys as the high priest. She loves the youth too, yet in secret. She forces him to reveal his feelings, but Atys only shows her his respect. Cybele is dissatisfied with his answer. Sangaride comes in and asks Cybele to save her from hateful marriage. Atys joins her entreaty. Cybele gives her agreement. Yet Sangaride thinks of Atys being unfaithful to her with Cybele. She gives her agreement to marriage with Celenus. When Atys gets to know about this, he reproaches Sangaride of unfaithfulness.They hurl reproaches on each other, but then realize their mistake and vow fidelity to each other. When the wedding is ready, Atys comes in and declares, that godess Cybele doesn't wish this marriage. Zefirs carry him with Sangaride away. When Cybele and Celenus get to know about this, they swear to take revenge on them.Cybele orders Fury Alecto to spike rage and madness into Atys. In a fit of madness he kills Sangaride, thinking that she's a terrible monster. When he relizes his deeds he kills himself. Cybele, mourning the loss of her beloved, turns him into a pine.
1. Ouverture
2. V act, scene 1: Ritournelle
3. V act, scene 1: Recitativo (Celnus, Cybèle)
4. V act, scene 2: Quartet (Celnus, Cybèle, Sangaride, Atys)
5. V act, scene 3: Prelude
2003 Vladimir Grudin