Having been granted unprecedented authority by Louis XIV, the Sun King, no-one could stage operas in France without Jean-Baptiste Lully’s permission. By 1686, however, Lully’s authority was waning and his long-standing librettist deserted him to write sacred works. Despite these setbacks, Lully wrote Acis et Galatée, a pastorale héroïque, and one of his final masterpieces. Its plot – the cyclops Poliphème’s love for the nymph Galatée – drew from Lully an astonishing alternation of effects, a profound monologue for the nymph in Act III and a magnificent concluding Passacaille, all framed by a succession of dances and vividly conceived choruses.

‘For the first time in its history the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale made use of period instruments, from whom Sardelli elicited a beautiful sound, expertly uncovering the score’s textural and rhythmic contrasts, without ever descending into excess....His [Federico Maria Sardelli] reading was lively, but always graceful and refined.’

‘…His [Jean-François] attention to the nuances of the text was superb, every phrase was carefully and elegantly moulded to fit their meaning... She [Elena Harsányi] possesses a well-supported voice with an homogenous tone, which she used skillfully to define her character, convincingly bridging the gap between the human and the semi-divine... Bass Luigi De Donato made a strong impression in the role of Polipème, managing to dominate the stage in more ways than one.’ – Operawire.com

‘...The opera represented in May marks a debut for Italy Final performance of the Sardelli festival on the podium: an ovation. …The contribution of the voices with in the foreground Jean-François Lombard’s sighing and slightly lifeless Acis, the luminous Galatée by Elena Harsányi and above all the colorful Polyphème by Luigi De Donato, a monster in love at the same time brutal and pathetic…’ – La Nazione Firenze

Cast:
- Acis: Jean-François Lombard (tenor)
- Galatée: Elena Harsányi (soprano)
- Diane, Deuxième Naïade, Scylla: Valeria La Grotta (soprano)
- L’Abondance, Aminte, Première Naïade: Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli (soprano)
- Comus, Tircis: Markus Van Arsdale (tenor)
- Apollon, Le Prêtre de Junon, Télème: Sebastian Monti (tenor)
- Poliphème: Luigi De Donato (bass)
- Neptune: Guido Loconsolo (baritone)
- Une Dryade: Silvia Spessot (soprano)
- Un Sylvain: Davide Piva (bass)

Director: Benjamin Lazar
Co-director: Elizabeth Calleo
Set designer: Adelin Caron
Costumes designer: Alain Blanchot
Lights designer: Christophe Naillet
Assistant costumes: Mathilda Benmoussa
Choreographer: Gudrun Skamletz
Video director: Matteo Ricchetti

Recording place: Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino – Sala Zubin Mehta, Florence, Italy