Even today, Lully is, regrettably, perhaps best known for the stupidly spectacular manner of his death. Conducting his Te Deum, ironically in celebration of King Louis XIV's successful recovery from surgery, he accidentally struck his own foot with his conducting staff, refused to have the appendage amputated, developed gangrene, and died. But, thanks in large part to the incomparable William Christie and his renowned group, Les Arts Florissants, Lully's music has seen a great surge in both respect and popularity over the last several decades. The work which sparked this revival of interest was Atys, the fourth of Lully's thirteen completed tragédies en musique, which was the hit of the 1986-87 Opéra-Comique season. This lavishly-produced reissue was released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Les Arts Florissants. Enjoy the crisp rhythmic verve, not to mention the virtuosic castanets, in this month's clip.