Armide

Armide is the last lyric tragedy in five acts created by the partnership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and Philippe Quinault because the latter’s health was failing. As in the case of Amadis, Louis XIV had suggested the subject of Armide, and the plan had been to present it initially at Versailles, although it had its world premiere at the Palais-Royal on 15 February 1686. The prologue of Armide presents La Gloire and La Sagesse disputing about whether glory or wisdom is dearer to the heart of the…