Les fêtes d'Hébé

His libretto came in for heavy criticism and the second entrée had to be revised with the aid of Simon-Joseph Pellegrin, who had written the words for Rameau's first opera, Hippolyte et Aricie.

In spite of the weak libretto, the work was an immediate success and became one of Rameau's most popular operas, enjoying 80 performances in its first year.

[1][2] Les fêtes d'Hébé takes the form of a typical opéra -ballet: a series of self-contained acts loosely based around a theme, in this the case the "lyric arts" of poetry, music and dance.

Cupid suggests she should escape with him to the banks of the River Seine to witness festivities celebrating the arts.

Iphise, daughter of Lycurgus, King of Sparta, is due to be married to Tyrtaeus, an accomplished musician as well as a warrior.

The god Mercury visits her village in disguise and falls in love with her, arousing the jealousy of the shepherd Eurilas.