title: Bellérophon
text: # Bellérophon
  
  Bellérophon is an opera with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Thomas Corneille and Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle first performed by the Opéra at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris on 31 January 1679.
  
  The libretto is based on Hesiod's Theogony. The opera played for nine months and was one of Lully's greatest successes.
  
  ## Roles
  
  | Cast | Voice type | Premiere, 31 January 1679 (Conductor: - ) |
  | - | - | - |
  | Apollon (prologue) | bass | François Beaumavielle |
  | Pan (prologue) | baritone | Arnoul |
  | Bacchus (prologue) | tenor | Roy |
  | Bellérophon | haute-contre | Bernard Clédière |
  | Sténobée | soprano | de Saint-Christophe |
  | Philonoé | soprano | Marie Aubry |
  | Argie | mezzo-soprano | Bony |
  | Pallas | mezzo-soprano | de La Prée |
  | Jobate | baritone | Jean Gaye |
  | Amisodar | bass | Nouveau |
  | Pythie | tenor | Roy |
  | Sacrificial priest | bass | Pulvigny |
  
  ## Synopsis
  
  The queen Sténobée (soprano), spurned by Bellérophon (tenor) who loves the princess Philonoé (soprano), has the magician Amisodar (bass) turn the garden into a barren desert and summon a chimera which terrorizes the country of Lycia. Apollo (tenor) appears and all is solved.
  
  ## Modern performances
  
  The first performance in modern times was by Les Talens Lyriques conducted by Christophe Rousset at the Festival of Beaune, 24 July 2010. It was followed by a two performances in Paris, the first of which was recorded and released in 2011 by the record label Aparté.
  
  ## Recording
  
  * Bellérophon Cyril Auvity, Ingrid Perruche, Céline Scheen, Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset (Aparté, 2 CDs, 2011)
  
  ## Sources
  
  * ↑ Rosow, Lois; McClymonds, Marita P. (2002). "Bellerophon". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.O011502. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  * ↑ "Album Lully : Bellérophon, Christophe Rousset | Qobuz: Download and streaming in high quality".
  * Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Bellérophon". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  * The New Grove French Baroque Masters, ed. Graham Sadler (Macmillan, 1986)
  * The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
  * Le magazine de l'opéra baroque by Jean-Claude Brenac (in French)
  