Jean-Baptiste Morin, a musician in the service of the music-loving Duc d’Orléans, performed a perfectly seasonal entertainment for His Majesty Louis XIV in August 1708 at the Château de Fontainebleau: La chasse du cerf, which means “Stag hunting”.

A royal privilege and the pleasure of princes, stag hunting was the noblest pastime of the monarchs from Louis XIII to Louis XVI, who developed and standardised the practice. A hunter’s library could contain five hundred volumes, and over three hundred terms were used to describe hunting: for example, the wild boar has eight different names depending on its age. Dog handlers, hounds, hunt leaders and whips were the daily companions of the kings of France.

Morin therefore intended his cantata La chasse du cerf for specialists. “Painting the action from beginning to end” is the theme of this musical work, punctuated by the divinities and stages of the hunt: the awakening, the meet, the report, the breakfast, the hunting lodges, the laisser-courre (literally “letting run”), the throw, the sighting of the stag, the chase, the kill, the death of the stag, and the curée (ceremonial dismemberment of the stag). but Comus, the god of feasting, is also in the mix, as is Bacchus, to celebrate the glory of Diana and the King.

The soloists of the Royal Opera Academy will be the exalted interpreters, making their “Tally-ho, come on doggies!” resound in the Hall of Mirrors.

Royal Opera Productions.

New Royal Opera Production.

Entertainment with a libretto by Jean de Serré de Rieux, premiered in Fontainebleau in 1708.

First part : Motets religieux de Morin – Royal Chapel

Second part : La chasse du cerf de Morin – Hall of Mirrors

KINGS & QUEENS TICKET : Free seating within the category. The very best seats, along with a prestige cocktail reception featuring a selection of fine delicacies and unlimited champagne, will be offered.

DUKES & DUCHESSES TICKET : Free seating within the category. Excellent seats, a prestige cocktail reception, and unlimited champagne will both be offered.

MARQUISES & MARQUISES TICKET : Free seating within the category. A cocktail reception with unlimited champagne will be offered.

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.