Lully

Lully, GIOVANNI BATTISTA, musical composer, was a Florentine by birth, born in 1633. Taken to Paris whilst still a boy, he attracted the attention of Louis XIV. by his violin-playing. The king made him director of the royal orchestra, and eventually (1672) director of operatic affairs in Paris. In collaboration with Quinault, Lully composed a great number of operas, some of which kept the stage until the time of Gluck (circa 1778). It was by making the ballet an essential part of the opera that Lully achieved this success. The favourites amongst his operas were Thésée, Armide, Phaëton, Atys, Isis, and Actis et Galathée. He died at Paris on 22d March 1687. A friend of Molière, he composed music for some of his comedies. See OPERA; and Radet's great monograph (1891).