Jephté

opera by Montéclair

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Jephté is an opera by the French composer Michel de Montéclair, created in 1732. The opera's subject matter, drawn from the biblical story of Jephthah, led to it being banned by the Archbishop of Paris due to its religious themes.1

The biblical Jephthah, featured in the Book of Judges, was an Israelite leader known for his military success and a tragic vow. He promised to sacrifice the first living thing to greet him upon his victorious return, which turned out to be his daughter. This narrative is interpreted as a reflection of Israel's devotion to Yahweh. Montéclair's opera is noted for its grandeur, comparable to the style of Jean-Baptiste Lully, and it is recognized for influencing Jean-Philippe Rameau.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Michel de Montéclair
…best known opera, or tragédie-lyrique, Jephté (1732), was banned by the Archbishop of Paris because of its biblical subject. It has a grandeur reminiscent of Lully and is known to have influenced Rameau. Other works include 20 French and 4 Italian cantatas (four books, 1709–28), a requiem, chamber music, and…
Read More
…best known opera, or tragédie-lyrique, Jephté (1732), was banned by the Archbishop of Paris because of its biblical subject. It has a grandeur reminiscent of Lully and is known to have influenced Rameau. Other works include 20 French and 4 Italian cantatas (four books, 1709–28), a requiem, chamber music, and…
Read More