The French opera was first started by the Italians in the seventeenth century. Due to political reasons, this initial form of Italian style opera did not get much response from the French. This early opera was played by Italian composer Francesco Sacrati in the first half of the seventeenth century. This form of art flourished further during the reign of King Louis XIV, who had Italian ancestors and friends, including his Prime Minister Cardinal Mazarin. These two facts, along with the king’s interest in music, helped French opera develop deep roots in the French culture.

Before King Louis XIV took complete control of the French throne in 1661, there were several attempts to establish French opera with in the culture but they proved futile. Jean-Baptiste Lully was a composer who had been composing various types of music that was played in the courts of King Louis XIV. He was also the first artist to introduce a complete French opera in Paris in the year 1673.

This first French opera staged in Paris was named as Cadmus et Hermione. This first French opera was presented by Lully along with the assistance of Philippe Quinault. Lully and Quinault made several changes in the earlier styles opera which were more influenced by the Italian style of Baroque opera. They built the French opera with proper five fold structure and included more dancing and music that received improved response from the French viewers.

The next significant composer in the history of French opera was Jean-Philippe Rameau. He was one of the creative composers who had a storehouse of stamina in making new compositions. His first opera was staged in the year 1733 and was named, Hippolyte et Arici. Rameau got place in the royal court in the year 1745. Along with operas, he had composed several ballets and other types of music, and had a practice of continuously refining his already created compositions.

The nineteenth century operas were influenced by the German culture, which was observed clearly in the compositions of artists like Richard Wagner. Twentieth century French opera still had the comic effects of the earlier centuries. Composers like Andre Messager and Reynaldo Hahn were responsible for maintaining this effect in the French opera during the new century. Francis Poulenc, another composer who worked in a similar style, also enjoyed great success.