Zephire et Flore 1st edition, 1688

Zephire et Flore, the only opera attributed to Louis and Jean-Louis Lully, sons of Jean-Baptiste Lully, sets a libretto by Michel Du Boullay based on episodes from Greek mythology. It was performed for the first time 22 March 1688 at the Palais Royale in Paris. There is no record of a court performance, and it was revived only once, in June of 1715, with revisions by Destouches. We know of no modern performances, nor recordings of the opera in whole or in part.

Zephire is somewhat unusual in that the libretto is in a Prologue and three acts, rather than the usual five.

The Prologue is a pleasant pastoral during which Vertumne, god of gardens, and Palés, goddess of shepherds, sing of the beauties of nature and the glories of the reign of King Louis XIV.

Act I takes place in Assyria, on the shores of the Euphrates, the kingdom of Flore. Borée laments his cruel fate in not having yet won over Flore. Zephire enters without seeing Borée. He speaks aloud about his secret love for Flore which prompts a confrontation with Borée who accuses him of being too tender. Zephire attempts to fool Borée with a lighthearted air, "A chaque Belle, à son tour" ("To each beauty, in her turn"). Cloris enters and interrupts a potentially volatile situation. Borée asserts that Flore cannot love Zephire since Zephire's heart has wandered. Zephire suggests that they call on Cybele to mediate their situation. Borée agrees and departs as the heavens begin a "terrible hissing." Flore appears and calms Zephire who proclaims that his love is a thousand times stronger than Borée's. They sing together that to love each other in secret must be enough for now. Clytie enters and interrupts Zephire's attempts to woo Flore. Proclaiming her love for the Sun, Clytie reveals that she has found a rival (in reality, Flore). Rejected, Clytie is about to leave as the Sun descends. The Sun commands the clouds to dissipate and tells Flore that he did this for her. Addressing Clytie, he chastises her for being jealous and banishes her. The clouds proclaim the glory of the sun. A nymph invokes the winds in a lovely aria, "Pariossez, doux Zephirs" ("Appear, soft zephyrs"). The act ends with Iris speaking to Zephire and Flore: Cybele is angry with Flore at her refusal of Borée; Flore is told to seek refuge in the forest. Zephire is told to take to the skies and learn the ways of the gods if he is to achieve his goal of having Flore. 

As Act II begins, the setting changes to a solitary place in a thick forest with raised rocks. Clytie, alone and furious, laments her fate. She blames the Sun for loving Flore and is outraged at her banishment. She hears the approaching retinue of Flore and hides to eavesdrop. Flore and Cloris discuss the difficulties and pleasures of love. Clytie wonders, who will be Flore's husband, for who is she waiting? Artenice, a nymph of Diane, enters and approaches Flore. She knows of Flore's plight and says that an army of supporters is on its way to help. Troops of Dryads and Sylvains enter and swear allegiance to Flore. They sing that love here (in the forest) is different than love in the rest of the world. It does not cause torment or strife; rather, love is enchanting. Borée interrupts the celebrations. He tells them that he has long been searching for Flore, his love. Clytie, who has been hiding throughout Borée's discourse, reveals herself. The two rejected lovers find that they have much in common. Borée invites Clytie to come with him to Thrace. There they will execute their vengeance. Flore and the troops of nymphs return and express their loathing for Borée. Uprooting trees and wreaking havoc, Borée seizes Flore and carries her away. The act ends with Cloris telling Zephire what has just happened. Zephire vows to deliver his love. 

The Act III curtain opens on the cave of Borée with mountains in the background. Borée displays before Flore the vastness of his empire. He bids her to look on these as her own if only she will accept him as her love. Flore prends to soften towards him but only as a means of escape. Borée recognizes her duplicity and chastises her. Flore sings a lament ("Cher souvenir, douce tendresse") in which she entreats the memories of happier times to help soften her pain. Clytie enters and Flore mistakenly thinks that she (Clytie) is here to share her (Flore's) pain. Clytie accuses Flore of stealing the Sun away from her. She assures Flore that she is no prisoner of Borée; she is here to exact her revenge. Flore assures her that she loves Zephire, not the Sun. Zephire enters and informs Flore that Jupiter now knows of their love and that he has given a slow but affirmative approval. They must now wait for Jupiter's arrival. Clytie, realizing her error of jealousy, cries out for death to alleviate her embarrassing suffering in a despairing air, "Qu'as-tu fait, ma jalouse erreur" ("What have you done, my jealous error?"). Zephire and Flore sing a brief love duet but are interrupted by Borée and his entourage. Before Borée's winds destroy Zephire, the Sun enters and tells Zephire and Flore that Jupiter will transport them away from this torment and will also ensure that Borée never again cause them problems. The scene changes to a magnificent palace. Flore asks Zephire if his heart will accept her now, though she did not accept him before. Zephire answers yes and they swear eternal allegiance to each other. The opera concludes with Cybele, Bachus, nymphs, and zephyrs all entering to celebrate the wedding of Zephire and Flore.  

Title from title page: ZEPHIRE / ET FLORE / OPERA / EN MUSIQUE
Genre: opéra in three acts and a Prologue
Siglum from Lully thematic catalog: not applicable
Composers: Louis Lully (1664-1734) and Jean-Louis Lully (1667-1688), sons of Jean-Baptiste Lully
Librettist: Michel Du Boullay
Libretto based on: Greek mythology
Setting: various mythological scenes
Premiere: Paris, Palais-Royal, 22 March 1688
First published: Paris: Christophe Ballard, 1688
Volume in the UNT Lully Collection: First edition, Paris: Christophe Ballard, 1688

See the Lully bibliography for suggested reading.

Full score: Typeset. 2° in 4s: ² A-2H4. 1-125, 128[i.e.126], 127-222, 225[i.e.223], 224-247, 240[i.e.248]. 36 ¼ x 25 cm.

Zephire et Flore (composers Louis and Jean-Louis Lully, sons of Jean-Baptiste; librettist Michel Du Boullay) was printed in 1688 by Christophe Ballard. The volume in the Lully Collection is a Ballard first edition.

Condition: The binding is a contemporary full sprinkled calf, with floral gilt decorations in the panels of the jointed spine. The edges of the binding are also gilt. A red morocco paste-on label gives the composer name ("Lulli") and title. A coat of arms in gilt appears on the cover. The endpapers are marbled, and there is some foxing and discoloration of paper.

Provenance: Given to the North Texas State University Music Library by faculty member Isaac Lloyd Hibberd, whose bookplate appears on the front paste-down endpaper together with an NTSU bookplate. NTSU blind stamp on title page; red wax seal on title page.

RISM A/I L3071