Love, jealousy, witchcraft and war: Charpentier’s 1688 sacred opera is a dramatic and moving reinterpretation of an Old Testament tragedy set on the eve of battle.

Envious of the close friendship between his son Jonathas and David, King Saul banishes David from the Israelite camp. Despite his desire for peace, David reluctantly joins the rival Philistine army, only too aware that he may be forced to fight his beloved friend in the coming war. When battle commences, will anybody be able to claim a true victory?

David et Jonathas is one of Charpentier’s most dramatic stage works, full of stirring music and passionate arias that convey its achingly poignant story.

Conductor William Christie’s reputation for interpreting the works of the great French Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier is second to none: he even named his exceptional period ensemble, Les Arts Florissants, after another of the composer’s operas. His cast are some of the top names in early opera and the production is by acclaimed German director Andreas Homoki.

A new production from Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Co-produced by Opéra Comique and Théâtre de Caen.