David et Jonathas

David et Jonathas

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
  1. ^ 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

Notes and references

  1. ^ 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


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • David et Jonathas — par Doré Genre Tragédie lyrique Nb. d actes …   Wikipédia en Français

  • David et Jonathas — Werkdaten Titel: David et Jonathas Originalsprache: Französisch Musik: Marc Antoine Charpentier Libretto: François de Paule Bretonneau …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • DAVID — (Heb. דָּוִד), youngest son of Jesse of the Ephrathite family that lived in Beth Lehem in Judah (I Sam. 16:1; 20:27–28; I Chron. 2:13–15; cf. Micah 5:1). In the Bible SOURCES I Samuel 16–II Kings 2 is our main source for David, supplemented by I… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • David and Jonathan (disambiguation) — David and Jonathan are figures in the Books of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. David and Jonathan may also refer to: David and Jonathan (band), British pop duo David et Jonathan, French vocal duo David et Jonathas, an opera by Marc Antoine… …   Wikipedia

  • David (Israel) — Egbert Psalter, fol. 20v, König David …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • David (Bible) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir David. David est un personnage de la Bible qui, deuxième roi d Israël, est présenté dans le récit biblique, avec son fils Salomon, comme l un des deux fondateurs de l ancien État israélite. Son histoire est… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • David et Jonathan (homonymie) — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. David et Jonathan renvoie à : David et Jonathan, deux personnages de l Ancien Testament ; David et Jonathas (1688) est un opéra de Marc Antoine… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • David (8) — 8David, Rex et Propheta, (29. Dec. al. 6. Oct.) Dieser hl. David, der zweite König des auserwählten israelitischen Volkes, und der unübertroffene königliche Psalmist, der den kommenden Erlöser nicht nur in seiner Person vielfach vorbildete,… …   Vollständiges Heiligen-Lexikon

  • Oeuvres musicales abordant le theme de l'homosexualite — Œuvres musicales abordant le thème de l homosexualité Le thème de l homosexualité a parfois été exprimé à travers des œuvres musicales. Cette expression est devenue plus fréquente au cours du XXe siècle, particulièrement dans les opéras et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Œuvres musicales abordant le thème de l'homosexualité — Le thème de l homosexualité a parfois été exprimé à travers des œuvres musicales. Cette expression est devenue plus fréquente au cours du XXe siècle, particulièrement dans les opéras et la musique pop. Sommaire 1 Homosexualité dans les… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”