Charpentier : David & Jonathas

Charpentier : David & Jonathas

The rare biblical opera David and Jonathas is with Médée one of the two major works of the French Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The opera is in the in repertoire of Les Arts Florissants since 1988 and was first presented in a stage production by William Christie in Aix-en-Provence Festival 2012. This DVD release is a special event for all lovers of Baroque music.

Written a year after the death of Lully, this lyric tragedy allows Charpentier to develop beyond the religious dimension, a story of a male friendship and forbidden love between David and Jonathas.

An excellent cast gathered around William Christie and Les Arts Florissants chose young singers to the title roles. Written for male voices, the cast gives to Pascal Charbonneau, a young tenor and a former student of the European Academy of Music, the role of David. The role of Jonathas is given to a woman: soprano Ana Quintans. The rest of the cast meets Neal Davies (Saül), Frédéric Caton (Achis), Krešimir Špicer (Joabel) and Dominique Visse (La Pythonisse).

The almost surrealist staging by Andreas Homoki (new Director of the Zurich Opera since summer 2012) avoids illustration and focuses on the psychological aspect of this prevented love story. It gives a moving reading of the drama.

Charpentier : David & Jonathas

Biblical tragedy in one prologue and 5 acts

Music : Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)

Libretto : Père François de Paule Bretonneau

David Pascal Charbonneau
Jonathas Ana Quintans
Saül Neal Davies
Achis Frédéric Caton
Joabel Krešimir Špicer
La Pythonisse Dominique Visse
L’Ombre de Samuel Pierre Bessière

Orchestre et Chœur des Arts Florissants

Conductor : William Christie

Stage direction : Andreas Homoki

Scenography : Paul Zoller
Costumes : Gideon Davey
Lighting design : Franck Evin