Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: opera
Song Meaning of “Phaëton, LWV 61: Entrée des furies” by Jean-Baptiste Lully
This powerful and dramatic piece is a musically artistic representation of the myth of Phaëton, the son of Apollo. Throughout the tumultuous piece, it tells the story of Phaëton, as he recklessly drives Apollo’s chariot too far and causes the chaos of his ultimate suffering and death, to which eventually the planets and stars are still paying tribute.
The song conveys the terror and anguish of this tragic event. As the strings weep and the drums punch low, it paints the picture of the gods’ raging storm which consumes Phaëton in a maelstrom of anarchy — the Entrée des furies. Plunging lower and lower, the song plunges into a frantic climax with chaotic cries, desperate pleading, and intense dynamics as it relates the fear and despair of the moment.
In the end, the song turns to a quiet, melancholy calm, representing the acknowledgement of the aftermath of the chaos and its impact on the stars. This is powerful musical testimony to the power of the divine, and a warning to those who seek to challenge its limits.