This is Charpentier’s masterpiece, and one of the miracles of Baroque opera !

Although Marc-Antoine Charpentier spent most of his career excluded from the Opéra, where Lully had the royal privilege, he was nevertheless able to create a lyrical masterpiece under very unique conditions. In 1688, the Collège Louis Le Grand, in the Jesuit tradition of theatre, music and choreography, staged his lyric tragedy David and Jonathas, its acts interspersed between those of the play Saul. This musical piece recounts a well-known subject from the Old Testament, the deep friendship – the biblical love – between David and Jonathas, son of King Saul. The latter is convinced of the betrayal of the young David, who sought refuge in the Philistine camp after his banishment. The inevitable clash between their armies ends in the suicide of the defeated Saul, while Jonathas dies in the arms of the victorious David.

The extraordinary inspiration of Charpentier’s music, the dramatic force of the libretto and the intense emotion that emanates from the work made it a great success even then, as demonstrated by several revivals at other Jesuit colleges. This production is a Baroque dream: to perform the sacred drama David and Jonathas in the Chapelle Royale at Versailles, with a sumptuous set by Antoine and Roland Fontaine, costumes by Christian Lacroix, dazzling Baroque staging by Marshall Pynkoski, choreography by Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg and the exquisite musical vision of Gaétan Jarry leading exceptional soloists. This is a stirring version of the powerful, fateful love story of David and Jonathas.

Royal Opera Productions / Château de Versailles Spectacles – remake.

Biblical tragedy in five acts with prologue, based on a libretto by Père Bretonneau, first performed in Paris in 1688.

Show in French with French surtitles.

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY: Best seats in house with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY: Excellent seats with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

REDUCED RATE: applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).

GROUP RATES: for more information, please refer to our page dedicated to works councils and groups.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remains available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone.