Le Temple de la Gloire is the only opera with a libretto by Voltaire that was performed during the 18th century, first in Versailles and later at the Opéra in Paris. Voltaire altered the intention of his commission somewhat, which was to celebrate Louis XV’s military victory at Fontenay in 1745: he transformed the Temple of Glory into a Temple of Public Happiness.
Voltaire’s intention was to reform French opera, giving it less love affairs and more spectacle. Rameau aided him brilliantly in this and, using his large orchestra to the full, composed some of his most original and most beautiful music—even though he was to reintroduce some love interest and lyricism for the work’s Parisian revival in 1746.
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