The New Sussex Opera (NSO) has officially announced its landmark autumn 2026 touring production: Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s rare and captivating French Baroque masterpiece, David et Jonathas. Originally composed in 1688 for the Jesuit Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris, this monumental tragédie en musique unfolds across five deeply emotional acts and a prologue. Long celebrated by musicologists as a dark, luminous jewel of the late 17th-century repertoire, the score pairs devastating dramatic intensity with achingly beautiful vocal writing.
This upcoming production marks a historic cultural milestone: it will be the very first time David et Jonathas is fully staged in London and the South of England. To make the complex theological and political narrative accessible to contemporary audiences, NSO has commissioned a brand-new English translation by librettist and translator Christopher Cowell.
Building on a string of critically acclaimed revivals—including John Frederick Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley in 2024 and The Silver Bell in 2025—NSO is once again cementing its reputation as an adventurous champion of overlooked operatic treasures. For this ambitious undertaking, NSO will collaborate for the second consecutive time with the period-instrument Bellot Ensemble. Recognized as the New Generation Baroque Ensemble for 2025–2027 through a prestigious joint initiative run by BBC Radio 3, the Royal College of Music (RCM), and the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), the ensemble promises authentic, vibrant period execution.
Furthermore, the production serves as the official launchpad for the Chalk Cliff Trust NSO Emerging Artists programme, an initiative generously supported by the Laidlaw Opera Trust. Designed to bridge the gap between community-run opera and the professional stage, this scheme provides vital mentorship and performance opportunities for the next generation of classical talent. Spanning major venues across the South of England and central London—including a prestigious performance at Cadogan Hall featuring a pre-concert talk by broadcaster Donald Macleod—the tour runs through October 2026, promising an unforgettable synthesis of Baroque stagecraft, visceral dance, and profound dramatic storytelling.
Detailed Chronology and Artistic Evolution
From Parisian Jesuit College to Contemporary British Stages
The historical origins of David et Jonathas trace back to late 17th-century Paris, a period of intense artistic flourishing under the reign of Louis XIV. Commissioned in 1688 for the students and patrons of the Jesuit Collège Louis-le-Grand, the opera was designed not merely as entertainment, but as a moral, theological, and educational exercise. Working alongside librettist Father François Bretonneau, Marc-Antoine Charpentier crafted a score that transcended its academic origins, delivering a psychological portrait of loyalty, political betrayal, and tragic destiny.
Unlike the secular mythological spectacles often found at the Paris Opéra, Charpentier’s tragédie en musique explores the biblical narrative of the deep, enduring bond between David, the future king of Israel, and Jonathan, the son of King Saul. The work deals with themes of profound sacrifice and the agonizing tension between state duty and personal love. Despite its artistic brilliance, the opera has historically suffered from relative neglect outside of specialist early music circles, making NSO’s decision to mount a full-scale touring production a major event for the British classical music calendar.
The Creative Vision and Production Team
Bringing a neglected 1688 French Baroque score to life for 21st-century audiences requires a delicate balance of historical fidelity and theatrical innovation. NSO has reassembled the visionary creative team behind its celebrated 2024 and 2025 successes. Director Paul Higgins returns to helm the production, working alongside designer Mollie Cheek, choreographer Namiko Gahier-Ogawa, and dramaturg Benjamin Poore.
The production embraces the kinetic, multimedia nature of Baroque theater. Dance and physical movement, which formed an essential, narrative-driving component of French Baroque opera, are front and center under Gahier-Ogawa’s choreography; notably, Gahier-Ogawa will also perform onstage, integrating movement seamlessly into the dramatic fabric of the piece. To further amplify the theatricality and underscore the raw emotional weight of the tragedy, the staging will be punctuated by the dramatic, atmospheric use of live stage percussion—a nod to the ingenious machinery and sonic palette of the period.
Star-Studded Cast and Musical Leadership
The vocal demands of Charpentier’s score are immense, requiring vocal agility, stylistic purity, and deep dramatic vulnerability. NSO has curated a dynamic cast of rising stars to shoulder these formidable roles. Tenor Harun Ellis Tekin and countertenor Tom Lilburn take on the demanding title roles of David and Jonathan, bringing their considerable vocal and theatrical talents to the central relationship of the opera.
They are joined by an illustrious supporting cast:
- Massimo Modoni as the tormented King Saul, a baritone role charged with royal authority and psychological unraveling.
- Daniel Chomiak in the dual bass roles of Achis and Samuel, anchoring the lower registers with resonant gravity.
- Nadiia Chaichenko, the acclaimed Ukrainian mezzo-soprano, who brings dramatic intensity to the role of the Witch of Endor.
The principals will be supported by the dedicated and formidable New Sussex Opera Chorus, an ensemble that has long formed the beating heart of the company’s artistic identity. Musically, the production benefits from the expert period-instrument accompaniment of the Bellot Ensemble, whose historically informed practices will breathe authentic life into Charpentier’s ornate counterpoint and evocative orchestration.
Supporting Context and Metrics: Empowering Emerging Talent
The Chalk Cliff Trust NSO Emerging Artists Programme
A defining characteristic of the 2026 autumn tour is its robust commitment to career development through the newly launched Chalk Cliff Trust NSO Emerging Artists programme. Generously underwritten by funding from the Laidlaw Opera Trust, this initiative addresses a persistent bottleneck in the classical music industry: the challenging transition from academic training to professional performance.
The emerging artists selected for this cohort will be integrated directly into the production of David et Jonathas. They will be entrusted with the opera’s numerous smaller named roles, while also reinforcing the choral textures alongside the main chorus. Beyond performance credits, the programme provides holistic professional development, including intensive one-to-one coaching sessions with NSO’s Music Director and Stage Director.
By functioning as an active bridge between community-based opera production and high-level professional touring, NSO ensures that regional audiences not only witness established excellence but also witness the genesis of tomorrow’s operatic stars.
Collaborative Synergy: The Bellot Ensemble
The return collaboration with the Bellot Ensemble—officially designated as the New Generation Baroque Ensemble for 2025–2027—highlights NSO’s dedication to high-level artistic partnerships. This prestigious scheme, jointly administered by BBC Radio 3, the Royal College of Music, and the National Centre for Early Music, provides a national platform for exceptional young period-instrument specialists.
For the Bellot Ensemble, touring David et Jonathas offers a rare opportunity to showcase the distinct color palette of late 17th-century French instrumentation—including flutes, oboes, bassoons, and continuous strings—outside of metropolitan centers. This partnership ensures that the stylistic nuances of French Baroque performance practice, from notes inégales to expressive ornamentation, are delivered with peerless precision.
Official Statements and Industry Reception
The announcement of the 2026 tour has generated considerable excitement across the British classical music community, reinforcing NSO’s position as one of the UK’s most dynamic regional opera companies.
"Staging David et Jonathas is a monumental step for New Sussex Opera," notes the artistic leadership team. "Charpentier’s score is not merely a historical artifact; it is a living, breathing emotional powerhouse that deserves a permanent place in the modern operatic consciousness. By pairing this UK regional premiere with Christopher Cowell’s brilliant new English translation, we are tearing down the linguistic and historical barriers that keep audiences from experiencing this dark jewel of the Baroque."
Industry commentators have similarly praised NSO’s trajectory. Following the critical success of The Dragon of Wantley, critics have highlighted NSO’s unique ability to unearth neglected repertoire and mount it with professional rigor, inventive design, and high-caliber casting.
Broadcaster Donald Macleod, who will host the pre-concert talk at London’s Cadogan Hall on October 20, emphasized the cultural significance of the project:
"Charpentier was arguably France’s greatest composer of the 17th century, yet his theatrical works are still performed far too infrequently in the UK. NSO’s commitment to bringing David et Jonathas to audiences from Hove to Winchester—and culminating in a major London showcase—is precisely the kind of visionary programming our musical landscape needs."
Future Outlook: Tour Itinerary and Ticket Information
The David et Jonathas autumn 2026 tour promises an immersive theatrical experience across a carefully curated selection of venues in the South of England and London. The itinerary is designed to bring world-class Baroque performance directly into regional cultural hubs, culminating in high-profile metropolitan showcases.
Tour Dates and Venues:
- October 11, 2026: Opening Night at the Windmill Theatre, Hove.
- Mid-October 2026: Holy Trinity, Cuckfield.
- Mid-October 2026: The Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne.
- October 20, 2026: Cadogan Hall, London (Pre-concert talk with broadcaster Donald Macleod and the creative team starting prior to the performance).
- Late October 2026: The Theatre Royal, Winchester.
Looking Ahead
As New Sussex Opera looks toward the autumn of 2026, the company stands at an exciting intersection of heritage preservation and community enrichment. Through the integration of the Chalk Cliff Trust Emerging Artists programme, the ongoing partnership with the Bellot Ensemble, and a fearless dedication to rare repertoire, NSO is proving that regional opera companies can drive national cultural conversations.
Full ticketing information, venue box office links, and detailed background materials on Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s masterpiece are now available via the official New Sussex Opera website. Audiences are strongly encouraged to secure their seats early for what promises to be one of the most talked-about classical music events of the 2026 season.
