Aesthetics of Opera in the Ancien Régime 1647-1785

This Is The First Study To Recognize The Wider Picture Of Opera Within Early-Modern French Culture. Downing Thomas Considers The Place Of Music Within A Cultural Environment--The Employment Of Music By Louis Xiv As A Symbol Of Absolutism; The Use Of Music As A Statement Against The Monarchy; And The Long-Term Development Of Opera As A Reflection Of Humanism. Thomas Examines Key Works By Lully Rameau And Charpentier Among Others And Extends His Reach From The Late Seventeenth Century To The End Of The Eighteenth.