On his deathbed, musician
Jean-Baptiste Lully remembers the outstanding
points of his life and career. In the early 1660s, young King Louis XIV puts
Lully in charge of the court's music, counting on him to create sumptuous
ballets. The ambitious Lully has made many enemies within the court,
including the composer Cambert, when he marries his beloved Madeleine.
Brought to collaborate with Molière on many musical comedies, Lully ends up
betraying him when he obtains the exclusive rights to produce musical shows
from the king. This monopoly bestows upon him the title of creator of the
French opera.