Francesco Cavalli’s “Xerse” (Venice, 1655) was one of the most successful operas of the seventeenth century. Among its numerous revivals, the one prepared for the Parisian court on the occasion of the wedding festivities of Louis XIV in 1660 stands out in particular; aside from a printed scenario, this version is documented through a copy of the score. This reveals extensive dramaturgical alterations that can be linked to a French context of reception, such as the division into five acts (instea...