Jean-Baptiste Lully’s music, adorned with novelty, splendour and irresistible flair, dazzled the Paris of Louis XIV, the Sun King.
Born in Italy in 1632 but spending much of his working life in France (until his death in 1687), he was the trailblazer for les Goûts réunis—the reunited tastes—blending the graceful French and fiery Italian ‘styles’ that grew into the lavish late Baroque musical language heard across Europe. His influence echoes in the work of Georg Muffat (1653–1704), Michel Richard de Lalande (1657–1726) and Bach’s contemporary Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764).
Despite its immense popularity, in performance and print, much of this music is seldom heard on the modern concert stage. Yet its refinement, exquisite gestures and beautifully precise ornamentation were so clearly designed for dancing. You might find yourself needing to get on your feet!
