The first version of “Dardanus”, which was performed at the end of 1739, was composed apparently in only six months and marks a particularly productive phase in Rameau’s career. In a period of only six years five of his majorworks were performed at the Académie Royale de Musique in Paris.

The theme is taken from Greek mythology: the opera describes the war between Teucer (the future founder of Troy), his Phrygian people and the army ofDardanus.