- David et Jonathas
-
Marc-Antoine Charpentier 
Operas- Les plaisirs de Versailles (1682)
- Actéon (1683-5)
- Les arts florissants (1685-6)
- La descente d'Orphée aux enfers (1686-7)
- David et Jonathas (1688)
- Médée (1693)
David et Jonathas (David and Jonathan), H. 490, is an opera in five acts and a prologue by the French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier, first performed at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, Paris, on 28 February 1688. The libretto, by Father François Bretonneau S.J., is based on the Old Testament story of the friendship between David and Jonathan. Although the opera takes the form of a typical French tragédie en musique it has also been referred to as a tragédie biblique because of its Biblical subject matter. David et Jonathas was first performed at a Jesuit college in combination with a spoken drama in Latin, Saul, by Father Étienne Chamillard. Each act of the opera was followed by one act from the play. Charpentier's work was so successful, it was reprised at other Jesuit colleges in 1706, 1715 and 1741. The opera received its American premiere in Baltimore in 2005[1]
Contents
Roles
"David and Jonathan", La Somme le roy manuscript illustration (ca. 1300)
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 1688
(Conductor: – )David haute-contre Jonathas soprano Saul baritone Achis bass Joadab[N 1] tenor La Pythonisse (Witch of Endor) haute-contre Ghost of Samuel bass - ^ Joadab is called Joabel in some productions.
Synopsis
Prologue
Saul, King of Israel, visits the "Pythoness" (the Witch of Endor in the Bible) in disguise to learn the outcome of his forthcoming battle against the Philistines. The Pythoness raises the ghost of the prophet Samuel, who predicts that Saul will lose everything: his children, his friends and his crown.
Act 1
David has been banished by the jealous Saul and has taken refuge with the Philistines. He returns to the Philistine camp from a victory. A chorus of warriors, shepherds and captives he has freed sing his praises. David only wishes that, whatever may come, his best friend Jonathan (Saul's son) should be spared. The Philistine king tells David that a truce has been arranged between the Philistines and Saul to discuss whether there shall be peace or war.
Act 2
During the truce, David and Jonathan seek each other out. The Israelite general Joadab is jealous of David and challenges him to single combat, which David refuses. Joadab plots against him and decides to tell Saul that the proposed peace is merely a trick by David.
Act 3
Joadab easily persuades the jealous Saul that David is plotting his downfall. Saul accuses David of treason and he is forced to leave.
Act 4
Saul decides to fight the Philistines and destroy David. The two armies, stirred up by Joadab, are also eager for war. David reluctantly parts from Jonathan, promising he will do all he can to save him and his father.
Act 5
The battle is fought and Saul loses. Jonathan is mortally wounded and dies in David's arms. Saul falls on his own sword to evade capture. Achis tells David he is the new king of the Israelites but this is little consolation in his grief for Jonathan.
Recordings
- David et Jonathas Paul Esswood, Colette Alliot-Lugaz, Philippe Huttenlocher, Opéra National de Lyon Chorus, English Baroque Festival Orchestra, conducted by Michel Corboz (Erato, 1981)
- David et Jonathas Gérard Lesne, Monique Zanetti, Jean-François Gardeil, Les Arts Florissants, conducted by William Christie (Harmonia Mundi, 1988)
- David + Jonathan Anders Dahlin (David), Sara Macliver (Jonathan), Dean Robinson (Saul), Richard Anderson (Achis), David Parkin (Ghost of Samuel), Simon Lobelson (Joabel), Paul Mcmahon (La Pythonisse); Pinchgut Opera, Orchestra of the Antipodes & Cantillation conducted by Antony Walker, (ABC Classics, 2009, cat. 4763691)
Notes and references
- ^ Gerbrandt, Carl (2006) Sacred Music Drama: The Producer's Guide. AuthorHouse, p. 364. ISBN 1425968473
Bibliography
- The Viking Opera Guide ed. Amanda Holden (1993)
External links
- David et Jonathas: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
- Libretto facsimile at Gallica
- David et Jonathas by John S. Powell, The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (subscription required)
- Libretto (French/English)
- Le magazine de l'opéra baroque by Jean-Claude Brenac (in French)
- David and Jonathan (2008) at Pinchgut Opera
Categories:- French-language operas
- Operas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
- Tragédies en musique
- 1688 operas
- Operas
- Operas based on the Bible
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