(1670), its text by Molière and its music by Lully, is widely recognized as the high-point of the

. Its success as a

is owing largely to the way in which the music and dance are woven into the fabric of the action. Formally, the published version of the play is structured in five acts (although the original version was laid out in three) with musical interludes between each act. But this is somewhat misleading, as the action is essentially continuous, and the so-called

are far more integrated than their name would suggest. The interlude between Acts I and II, for example, consists of a demonstration of ballet steps, organized by the dancing instructor, and need not be considered separate from the previous or the…

2551 words

Citation: Prest, Julia. "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 April 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4089, accessed 03 December 2024.]