Hard on the heels of Armide (10/11) comes this equally splendid DVD of Atys. How the production came about makes a heartening story. The reputation of William Christie and Les Arts Florissants in French Baroque opera dates from their production of Atys in 1987 (though I recall an Hippolyte et Aricie at the Opéra Comique in 1985 with the ‘Ensemble Baroque William Christie’). An American businessman called Ronald P Stanton saw it and loved it. Some 20 years later, despairing of ever seeing Atys again, he offered to pay for it to be restaged last May, with the same sets, costumes and choreography, and Jean-Marie Villégier returning as director.

If William Christie’s subsequent exploration of Baroque opera was notable for one thing, it was this: the ‘historically informed’ sounds coming from the orchestra pit were not matched by what was seen on the stage. With directors such as Robert Carsen and Andrei Serban, it could hardly be otherwise. But this visually sumptuous production will satisfy the most diehard traditionalist. It’s true that the sets and costumes are far removed from ancient Phrygia; but they do evoke the time of Louis XIV, Lully’s patron. Atys was known as ‘l’opéra du Roy’ and it was revived many times in the king’s lifetime.

The goddess Cybèle chooses Atys, whom she loves, as her ‘sacrificial priest’. Atys abuses his position to prevent Sangaride, his own beloved, from marrying Célénus. Cybèle takes a terrible revenge, causing Atys to murder Sangaride in a fit of madness. Stéphanie d’Oustrac as Cybèle is magnificent: she is so desperate in ‘Espoir si cher, et si doux’ that it’s impossible not to pity her. When she hears of Sangaride’s death, the subtlety of her expression of triumph is mesmerising.

Bernard Richter finds plenty of passion as Atys; sadly we don’t see him transformed into a pine tree by the remorseful Cybèle. Emmanuelle de Negri catches perfectly the wistfulness of ‘Atys est trop heureux’. In smaller roles, all well taken, Paul Agnew and Sophie Daneman stand out. Chorus, orchestra and conductor are first-class. Mr Stanton must have been thrilled.