Armide is an opera in five acts by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687). The libretto (text of an opera) by Philippe Quinault, is based on Torquato Tasso's poem La Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered). The work is in the form of a tragédie en musique, a genre invented by Lully and Quinault.

Synopsis: During the First Crusade, Armide ensnares her enemy the Christian knight Renaud with her magic spells. At the moment she raises her dagger to kill him, she finds herself falling in love with him. She casts a spell to make him love her in return. Upon returning to her castle, she cannot bear that Renaud's love is only the work of enchantment. She calls on the Goddess of Hate to restore her hatred for Renaud, but fails to escape from her feelings of love for him. The Goddess condemns Armide to eternal love. Before Armide can return to Renaud, two of his fellow soldiers reach Renaud and break Armide's spell. Renaud manages to escape from Armide, who is left enraged, despairing, and hopeless.

The TEATRO ALL SCALA (called La Scala) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778. Most of Italy's greatest operatic artists, and many of the finest singers from around the world, have appeared at La Scala. The theatre is regarded as one of the leading opera and ballet theatres globally. It is home to the La Scala Theatre Chorus, La Scala Theatre Ballet, La Scala Theatre Orchestra, and the Filarmonica della Scala orchestra. The major parts in this production were filled by: Anna Caterina Antonacci as Armide, Dean Peterson as Hidraot, Paul Groves, as Renaud, Giuseppe Filianoti as Artemidore, and Simon Keenlyside as Ubalde. Anna Caterina Antonacci (b. 1961) is an Italian soprano known for roles in the bel canto and Baroque repertories.  Giuseppe Filianoti (b. 1974) is an Italian lyric tenor from Reggio Calabria.