David et Jonathas  

The biblical tragedy David et Jonathas, comprising a prologue and five acts, was composed by Charpentier as a commission for the Jesuit priests of the Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris in 1688, the year in which Quinault and Lully passed away within a month of each other. The work was originally intended as an interlude to Saul, a Latin tragedy, also in five acts, written by one of the fathers at the Collège. Less well developed dramatically than French musical court theatre when Lully reigned supreme, with each act focusing on a single character without secondary plotting, the repertoire performed at the Collège Louis-le-Grand reveals above all the power of the Jesuit order during this period. Sébastien Daucé is now an acknowledged expert on French music from the Grand Siècle. He captivated us a few years ago with his magnificent reconstruction of the iconic Ballet de la Nuit. Now he is turning his attention to Charpentier, a near contemporary of Lully, who spurned the splendour of the court yet remained a favourite of King Louis XIV. As a champion fighting for the Philistines, David prepared for kingship as a youth on the battlefields. This exploration of sensitivity demonstrates Charpentier’s mastery of this subject matter. 

Production théâtre de Caen 
Coproduction Théâtre des Champs-Elysées | Ensemble Correspondances | Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg | Opéra National de Lorraine | Opéra de Lille | Théâtre National Populaire Villeurbanne

Avec le soutien d’Aline Foriel-Destezet, 
Grand Mécène de la saison artistique du Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
En partenariat avec france.tv