Although not specifically a Baroque opera ensemble, it is within this field that Les Arts Florissants has achieved its greatest successes. The majority of the ensemble's performances are of period operas (both staged and in concert), many of which are available on CD on the Harmonia Mundi and Erato labels and on DVD. The group first drew international acclaim in the area of opera in December 1986-January 1987 with a production of Jean-Baptiste Lully's Atys at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The opera had not been performed since 1753 and Christie had unearthed the score at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and created a performing edition. William Christie: "There were a number of important moments in the history of the Arts Florissants, but there's one moment that obviously stands out – and that's the moment when we produced Atys." Christie had been approached by the director of the Paris Opera, Massimo Bogianckino, to think about putting on a Lully opera. Christie was advised by the Opéra-Comique's Thierry Fouquet that Quinault's libretto for Atys would demand an extraordinary stage director – Jean-Marie Villégier took this role[4] and he, together with Christie, created Atys. The production marked the renaissance of Baroque opera in France.
Les Arts Florissants has also had a number of successes in the concert repertoire. The organization has performed and recorded a number of oratorios, cantatas, madrigals, masses, motets, and other musical forms typical of early music. Occasionally, the ensemble has made forays into contemporary repertoire, notably performing the world premiere of Betsy Jolas's Motets III – Hunc igitur terrorem at a gala on the occasion of the ensemble's 20th anniversary in 1999.
2012 David et Jonathas (Charpentier) Festival d'Aix en Provence
2015: Un Jardin à l'Italienne
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687). The 1986 production of his opera Atys by Les Arts Florissants brought the ensemble to international attention. The opera was subsequently recorded by the group for Harmonia Mundi in 1993.
Caecelia, virgo et martyr H.413, Filius prodigus H.399, Magnificat à 3 voix H.73, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Harmonia Mundi, 1979
Cantique de Moÿse; Veni sponsa mea; Trois fantaisies à quatre pour les violes; Espoir de toute âme affligée; O bone Jesu, Étienne Moulinié, Harmonia Mundi, 1980
Madrigaux des VIIe et VIIIe livres, Claudio Monteverdi, Harmonia Mundi, 1981
Pastorale sur la naissance de N.S. Jesus-Christ, H.483 ; In nativitatem Domini Nostri Jesu Christi canticum H.414; Magnificat à 3 voix, H.73, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Harmonia Mundi 1982
Les Arts florissantsH.487, Ouverture de la Comtesse d'Escarbagnas H.494 i & Intermèdes nouveaux du Mariage forcé H.494 ii, Marc-Antoine Charpentier Harmonia Mundi, 1982
Un Oratorio de Noël; In nativitatem Domini canticum, H.416; Sur la naissance de Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ H.482 de Marc Antoine Charpentier, Harmonia Mundi, 1983
Ballo delle ingrate: livre VIII des madrigaux; Sestina, Claudio Monteverdi, Harmonia Mundi, 1983
Médée H.491, tragédie lyrique en un prologue et cinq actes, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Harmonia Mundi, 1984–2019
Grand Prix du Disque Académie Charles Cros, La Référence Compcact magazine, Sélection Télérama ffff, Diapason d'or, Le Timbre d'Argent de la revue Opéra, Diamant de Harmonie panorama musique, Gramophone award 1985, International Record Critics Award Montreux 1985, Prix Opus 1985 USA, Choc de Classica 2019
Le Reniement de Saint Pierre H.424 ; Méditations pour la Carême H.380 – H.389, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Harmonia Mundi, 1985
Missa Assumpta est Maria H.11, Domine salvum H.303, Litanies de la Vierge H.83, Te deum H.146, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Harmonia Mundi 1988
Oratorio per la Settimana Santa; Un peccator pentito, Luigi Rossi, Arles, Harmonia Mundi, 1989
Les antiennes "O" de l'Avent: H.36 à H.43 ; Noël sur les instruments: H.534; In Nativitatem D.N.J.C. canticum: H.414, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Arles, CD Harmonia Mundi, 1990
Pièces de clavecin (1724) Les Indes galantes: suite d'orchestre; Anacréon: ballet en un acte, scène 5; In convertendo, grand motet, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Arles, Harmonia Mundi, 1992
Pygmalion; Nélée et Myrthis, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Arles, Harmonia Mundi, 1992
Rameau, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Arles, Harmonia Mundi Plus, 1992
Motets & Madrigaux Il ballo delle ingrate; Selva morale; L'incoronazione di Poppea, Claudio Monteverdi, Arles, Harmonia Mundi, 1992
Airs de cour (1689), Michel Lambert, Harmonia Mundi, 1992
Idoménée, André Campra, Arles, Harmonia Mundi, 1992
Atys, tragédie lyrique en un prologue et cinq actes; Dies Irae; Petits motets; Airs pour le clavecin, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Harmonia Mundi, 1993
Lully, Jean Baptiste Lully, Arles, France: Harmonia Mundi, 1993
Judicium Salomonis H.422- (Solomon's judgement), Motet pour une longue Offrande H.434, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Virgin Classics, 2006
Handel Arias, George Frideric Handel, Decca, 2007Le Jardin des Voix, Virgin Classics, 2006
Le Jardin des voix, William Christie, [S.l.], Virgin Classics, 2006Opera's first master The musical dramas of Claudio Monteverdi, Claudio Monteverdi, Pompton Plains, Amadeus Press, 2006
Un oratorio de Noël In Nativitatem Domini Canticum H.416, Les Antiennes "O" de l'avent H.36 à H.43, Noëls pour les instruments H.534, Sur la Naissance de Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ H.482 de Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Arles, Harmonia Mundi (1982–1983) 2021
