Proserpine (Proserpina) is an opera with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Philippe Quinault first performed at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 3 February 1680.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 3 February 1680 Prologue La Paix (Peace)soprano Catherine Ferdinand La Félicité (Felicitas)soprano Mlle Rebel L'Abondance (Abundantia)soprano Mlle Puvigné (or Puvigny) La Discorde (Discord)tenor (en travesti) Puvigné (or Puvigny) La Victoire (Victoria)soprano Claude Ferdinand Tragédie Pluton (Pluto)bass Jean Gaye Ascalaphe (Ascalaphus), son of Acheron, confidant of Plutonbass Antoine Morel Proserpinesoprano Claude Ferdinand Cérès (Ceres)sopranoMlle Saint-Christophle Jupiterbass Godonesche Alphée (Alpheus)haute-contre Bernard Cledière Aréthuse (Arethusa)sopranoCatherine Ferdinand Mercure (Mercury)tenorLangeais Cyané, a Sicilian nymph, confidante of Cérèssoprano Mlle Bony Crinise, god of the Sicilian river Crinisusbasse-taille Arnoul Furies2 tenors and a basse-taille(?) Claude Desvoyes, Puvigny (or Puvigné) and Le Maire A blessed spiritsoprano
Synopsis Based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, the plot centers around the abduction of Proserpine by Pluton, with side plots concerning Cérès's love for Jupiter and the love intrigue between Alphée and Aréthuse.
Recordings soloists, Le Concert Spirituel, conducted by Hervé Niquet (Glossa, 2 CDs, 2008) soloists, Les Talens Lyriques, cond. Christophe Rousset (Chateau de Versailles label, 2025)
References
Further reading The New Grove French Baroque Masters, ed. Graham Sadler (Macmillan, 1986) The Viking Opera Guide, ed. Amanda Holden (Viking, 1993) Le magazine de l'opéra baroque by Jean-Claude Brenac (in French)
External links