William Christie

Jean-Baptiste Lully's Atys, a tragédie en musique, became known as the 'king's opera' due to Louis XIV's fondness for it. The work stands as a testament to the Sun King's courtly refinement, as well as his moves to make France the centre of European artistic culture. The opera's themes of romantic dilemmas and ultimate tragedy, set amidst the poetic atmosphere of Ovid's classical mythology, create the perfect vehicle for a narrative filled with dramatic...

Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville was greatly admired in his day. His opera Titon et l'Aurore was one of his most popular works, being held up as a triumph over the rival Italian style during the Parisian Querelle des Bouffons in the 1750s. The narrative of this spectacular opéra-ballet follows the tumultuous and seemingly unbreakable liaison between the goddess L'Aurore and her lover.

Written by John Gay in 1728, The Beggar's Opera is widely considered to be the first musical comedy, and one that preempted by about 300 years the current vogue for "jukebox" productions, which create a plot to fit around hit songs. Gay took some of the best-known tunes of his day, both classical and popular, and worked them into a savagely satirical tale set amongst London's thieves, pimps and prostitutes. Wildly popular from its first performance,...