Jean-Baptiste Lully

Jean-Baptiste Lully (born Nov. 29, 1632, Florence [Italy]—died March 22, 1687, Paris, France) was an Italian-born French court and operatic composer who from 1662 completely controlled French court music and whose style of composition was imitated throughout Europe. Born of Italian parents, Lully gallicized his name when he became a naturalized Frenchman. His early history is obscure, but he probably was taken to France by the Duke de Guise. He entered the service of Mlle...