Armida

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Armida is a beautiful enchantress in Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, who bewitched Rinaldo, one of the Crusaders, by her charms, as Circe did Ulysses, and who in turn, when the spell was broken, overpowered her by his love and persuaded her to become a Christian. The "Armida Palace" in which she enchanted Rinaldo has become a synonym for any merely visionary but enchanting palace of pleasure.

[edit] Armida as an Opera

The Armida story was set by several composers, including Lully, Handel, Gluck, Salieri, Jommelli, Haydn, Rossini and Dvorak. The setting by Dvorak was to be his last opera, beautifully orchestrated and reminiscent tonally to Rusalka in places, though, with a decidedly eastern feel.

[edit] Ballet

On 6 January 1955 Frederick Ashton premiered a one act ballet about Rinaldo and Armida with music by Malcolm Arnold

Rinaldo and Armida, by Tiepolo

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.