The libretto of 'Les Arts Florissants' features a conflict between personified Arts (Music, Painting, Poetry, Architecture) and the forces of war (Discord and Furies), with Peace ultimately triumphing.
Composition History
Charpentier's 'Les Arts Florissants' was written for Marie de Lorraine, Duchesse de Guise, a cousin of Louis XIV, who maintained a small ensemble of musicians.
Composer Biography
Marc-Antoine Charpentier was largely excluded from the main Parisian stage due to rivalry with Jean-Baptiste Lully, a prominent composer of the era.
Composition History
Charpentier's collaboration with the Comédie Française, including music for Molière's plays, was a result of a quarrel between Molière and Jean-Baptiste Lully.
Composition History
Charpentier often noted the names of his performers in his autograph manuscripts, which are now collected in 28 volumes in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.
Composer Biography
Charpentier himself performed the role of Painting in 'Les Arts Florissants', a part written for a haute-contre (high tenor) voice.
Compositional Technique
Charpentier demonstrated his originality by composing a chorus of Warriors with contrasting music, using echo effects for the delights of music and a jerky, violent style for the horrors of battle.
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