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Charpentier: David and Jonathas
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From Thursday 10th to Saturday November 12th 2022
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Royal Chapel
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2h30 with intermission
Cast
Reinoud Van Mechelen David
Caroline Arnaud Jonathas
David Witczak Saül
François-Olivier Jean Pythonisse
Antonin Rondepierre Joabel
Geoffroy Buffière Samuel’s shadow
Virgile Ancely Achis
Ensemble Marguerite Louise
Gaétan Jarry Conductor
Marshall Pynkoski Staging
Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg Choreography
Antoine Fontaine et Roland Fontaine Sets
Hervé Gary Lighting
Christian Lacroix Costumes
Presentation
Here is Charpentier’s masterpiece and one of the baroque opera miracle!
Marc-Antoine Charpentier spent most of his career without being able to access opera, as Lully held the royal privilege for this form, however he was able to create a lyrical masterpiece under very special circumstances. In 1688, the Collège Louis Le Grand, in the Jesuit tradition of theatrical, musical and choreographic practice, performed his lyrical tragedy David et Jonathas, with acts interspersed between those of the play Saul. This musical work relates a well-known subject from the Old Testament, the strong friendship – the biblical love – of David and Jonathas, son of King Saul (the latter convinced of the betrayal of the young David, who took refuge in the Philistine’s camp after his banishment). The inevitable confrontation between their armies leads to Saul’s suicide and Jonathas’ death in the arms of the victorious David…
Show moreThe extraordinary inspiration of Charpentier’s music, the dramatic force of the libretto, and the intense emotion that radiates from the work, led to great success from the outset, as shown by several revivals in other Jesuit colleges. This production is a baroque dream: a performance of the sacred drama David and Jonathas in the Chapelle Royale of Versailles, with a magnificent set by Antoine Fontaine, costumes by Christian Lacroix, a baroque and vibrant staging by Marshall Pynkoski, choreography by Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, and the admirable musical vision of Gaetan Jarry leading exceptional soloists. This is the vibrant version of the fateful, fusional love between David and Jonathas…
Programme
Biblical tragedy in five acts with prologue, based on a libretto by Père Bretonneau, first performed in Paris in 1688.
New production
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Download the programme of the show
The Royal Chapel of the Château de Versailles
More infoAnd also…
CD Charpentier – David and Jonathas
N°102
