Having given us rarities by Offenbach and Saint-Saëns, New Sussex Opera is popping its consideration to seventeenth century France for its providing in Autumn 2026. They are going to be staging Charpentier’s David et Jonathas with performances in Lewes (11/10/26), Cadogan Corridor, London (20/10/26), Eastbourne (23/10/26) and Winchester (25/10/26). The opera can be performed by Toby Purser and directed by Paul Higgins the staff chargeable for their performances of Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley n 2024 [see my review].
The orchestra would be the Bellot Ensemble, who performed in The Dragon of Wantley. The Bellot Ensemble has simply launched their debut CD, Cupid’s Floor Bass [see my review].
Lully’s monopoly on writing music for the Paris Opera throughout the seventeenth century meant that Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s entry to the operatic institution was restricted. Most of his works within the style are typically smaller items; although he did write Médée for the Paris Opera, many extra items had been written for aristocratic patrons. His opera David et Jonathas was in truth written for the Jesuits, for the Collège Louis-le-Grand, Paris. It had a libretto by by Father François Bretonneau, relies on the Previous Testomony story of the friendship between David and Jonathan. At its first efficiency the opera was carried out with a spoken drama Saul. The meant impact was to be edifying and instructive. It will need to have succeeded as a result of different Jesuit faculties additionally carried out the work.
Surprisingly, Charpentier wrote within the type of a typical French tragédie en musique although the dance episodes are, inevitably, restricted. The work is being carried out in a brand new English translation by Christopher Cowell.
Full particulars from New Sussex Opera’s web site.
