The New International Encyclopædia/Esther (Racine)

ESTHER. (1) A drama by Racine, written at the suggestion of Madame de Maintenon, and founded on the life of the Old Testament personage of the same name. It was written for the pupils of Saint Cyr, and was performed by them before Louis XIV. in 1689. (2) An oratorio, the words by Humphreys, based on Racine's play, and the music by Handel. Its first performance took place in 1720.