Executive Overview
In a major coup for the British classical music calendar, New Sussex Opera (NSO) has officially announced its ambitious autumn touring production for 2026: Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s rare and emotionally devastating tragédie en musique, David et Jonathas. First composed in 1688 for the Jesuit Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris, this five-act masterpiece—complete with an allegoric prologue—remains a dark jewel of the French Baroque. Despite its profound musical genius and dramatic intensity, the work is set to receive its premiere staging across London and the South of England, rendered accessible to contemporary audiences through a brand-new English translation by librettist and translator Christopher Cowell.
The announcement underscores NSO’s growing reputation for championing neglected masterpieces and pushing the boundaries of regional opera production. Following a string of critically lauded revivals—including John Frederick Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley in 2024 and The Silver Bell in 2025—the company is once again partnering with the dynamic period-instrument ensemble, the Bellot Ensemble. Recognized as the New Generation Baroque Ensemble for 2025–27 through a prestigious joint scheme run by BBC Radio 3, the Royal College of Music (RCM), and the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), the Bellot Ensemble brings authentic historical performance practice to NSO’s theatrical vision.
Furthermore, this 2026 production acts as a launchpad for the innovative Chalk Cliff Trust NSO Emerging Artists programme, generously supported by the Laidlaw Opera Trust. By embedding early-career professionals into key supporting roles and the chorus, NSO continues to solidify its role as a vital bridge between community-based opera initiatives and the professional sphere. Opening at the Windmill Theatre in Hove on October 11, 2026, the tour will traverse landmark venues in Cuckfield, Eastbourne, Winchester, and London’s prestigious Cadogan Hall—where broadcaster Donald Macleod will host an exclusive pre-concert discussion with the creative team.
Detailed Chronology: From 17th-Century Jesuit College to 21st-Century British Stages
The Genesis: Paris, 1688
To fully appreciate the significance of NSO’s upcoming production, one must look back nearly three and a half centuries to the intellectual and artistic hothouse of late-17th-century Paris. Marc-Antoine Charpentier, one of the most brilliant and innovative composers of the French Baroque, found himself working extensively for the Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand. Unlike his contemporary Jean-Baptiste Lully, who held a stifling monopoly over the official public lyric theater (the Académie Royale de Musique), Charpentier composed much of his sacred and dramatic music for academic and religious institutions.
David et Jonathas was originally conceived as an interlude to be performed between the acts of a Latin tragedy written by Father François Bretonneau. Yet, Charpentier’s score quickly transcended its pedagogical origins. Working alongside librettist Father François de Paule Bretonneau, Charpentier crafted a deeply psychological drama based on the Biblical Books of Samuel. The narrative explores the intense, noble friendship between David and Jonathan—the son of King Saul—against the bloody backdrop of impending war with the Philistines.
Musically and dramatically, the work is a masterpiece of shadow and light. It features searing vocal lines, sophisticated harmonic language that reflects Italian influences absorbed during Charpentier’s studies in Rome with Carissimi, and rich orchestration that utilizes the expressive palette of French Baroque instruments.
The Modern Revival Strategy
Bringing a work of this scale and historical weight to regional British theaters requires a rare alignment of artistic vision, musicological dedication, and logistical daring. NSO’s creative team—reuniting the minds behind their acclaimed 2024 and 2025 triumphs—has spent months preparing this realization.
- Direction: Paul Higgins brings a contemporary psychological acuity to the staging, ensuring that the heavy political and familial burdens weighing on the characters resonate with modern audiences.
- Design & Choreography: Mollie Cheek’s set and costume designs balance period aesthetics with stark, functional theatricality, while Namiko Gahier-Ogawa choreographs a movement-heavy production that honors the mandatory dance elements of French Baroque opera. Gahier-Ogawa will also perform onstage, integrating physical theater directly into the drama.
- Dramaturgy: Benjamin Poore ensures that Christopher Cowell’s new English translation maintains the rhythmic integrity and rhetorical power of the original French libretto without sacrificing dramatic clarity for modern theatergoers.
The production also embraces the sonic texture of Baroque theater through the dramatic, rhythmic use of stage percussion, highlighting the martial conflicts that drive the tragedy toward its devastating conclusion.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Talent, Collaboration, and Educational Impact
An All-Star Cast of Rising Voices
NSO has assembled a formidable cast of young, highly promising singers who are already making waves across the international opera circuit:
- Harun Ellis Tekin takes on the title role of David, bringing his agile, emotive tenor to the role of the shepherd-warrior torn between loyalty, love, and divine destiny.
- Tom Lilburn stars as Jonathas (Jonathan), utilizing his ethereal yet dramatically charged countertenor to portray the tragic prince caught in the crossfire between his father and his dearest friend.
- Massimo Modoni brings authoritative gravity and vocal resonance to the complex, tormented role of King Saul.
- Daniel Chomiak tackles the dual bass roles of Achis and the ghost of Samuel, providing the sonic bedrock for the opera’s supernatural and political confrontations.
- Nadiia Chaichenko, the acclaimed Ukrainian mezzo-soprano, steps into the chilling role of the Witch of Endor, invoking the dead in one of the opera’s most striking and atmospheric scenes.
These principal artists are bolstered by the dependable, rich choral textures of the New Sussex Opera Chorus, who remain the beating heart of the organization’s performance ethos.
The Bellot Ensemble and Period Authenticity
The musical backbone of the production is supplied by the Bellot Ensemble. Selected as the New Generation Baroque Ensemble for 2025–27, this collaboration—administered by BBC Radio 3, the RCM, and the NCEM—guarantees performances of exceptional stylistic rigor. Playing on period instruments tuned to historical pitch, the ensemble will recreate the transparent textures, biting dissonances, and lush continuo lines that define Charpentier’s inimitable acoustic world.
The Chalk Cliff Trust NSO Emerging Artists Programme
A defining milestone of the 2026 tour is the launch of the Chalk Cliff Trust NSO Emerging Artists programme, bolstered by critical funding from the Laidlaw Opera Trust. This initiative directly addresses a persistent challenge in the classical music industry: the scarcity of paid, high-level professional development opportunities for singers transitioning from conservatoires to main-stage careers.
Under this program, early-career artists will:
- Assume the numerous smaller named roles within David et Jonathas.
- Augment and support the main chorus in complex polyphonic passages.
- Receive intensive, one-to-one mentoring and musical coaching from NSO’s Music Director and Stage Director.
This initiative cements NSO’s dual mission: delivering world-class, intellectually stimulating opera to audiences across the South of England while actively nurturing the next generation of British and international operatic talent.
Official Statements and Industry Perspectives
Speaking on the announcement of the 2026 tour, representatives from New Sussex Opera emphasized the profound artistic rewards of tackling Charpentier’s masterwork.
"In bringing ‘David et Jonathas’ to London and the South, we are not merely dusting off a museum piece," noted a spokesperson for the creative team. "Charpentier wrote music of staggering emotional depth—music that lays bare the agonies of love, loyalty, and political tyranny. By presenting this in a fresh English translation with period instruments and some of today’s most exciting young voices, we want to prove that Baroque opera can be as visceral, immediate, and shattering as any verismo masterpiece."
The collaboration with the Bellot Ensemble has also drawn high praise from broadcast partners. BBC Radio 3 and its institutional partners have lauded the partnership as a model for how regional opera companies can successfully integrate cutting-edge historical performance practice with community engagement.
Furthermore, educational trusts supporting the venture have highlighted the transformative potential of the Emerging Artists programme. By embedding young professionals within a rigorous touring environment, NSO is providing a crucial stepping stone that bridges the gap between academic training and professional longevity.
Future Outlook: Tour Dates, Venues, and Ancillary Events
The 2026 autumn tour promises an intensive schedule across diverse venues, culminating in a high-profile London date. The confirmed performance itinerary is as follows:
- October 11, 2026: Windmill Theatre, Hove (Opening Night)
- Mid-October 2026: Holy Trinity, Cuckfield
- Mid-October 2026: Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
- October 20, 2026: Cadogan Hall, London
- Late October 2026: Theatre Royal, Winchester
Special Events and Accessibility
For the London performance at Cadogan Hall on October 20, NSO has arranged an exclusive pre-concert event. Renowned BBC broadcaster Donald Macleod will lead a panel discussion with members of the creative team, offering audience members deep insights into Charpentier’s musical world, the challenges of translating 17th-century French libretti into English, and the directorial choices shaping the 2026 staging.
With tickets expected to be in high demand following the critical success of The Dragon of Wantley, opera enthusiasts, early music specialists, and cultural tourists are encouraged to secure their seats early.
Full ticketing information, venue accessibility details, and background resources on the cast and creative team are now available via the official New Sussex Opera Website. As NSO prepares to pull back the curtain on this 17th-century French masterpiece, the autumn 2026 tour stands poised to be one of the most intellectually engaging and musically rewarding theatrical events of the decade.
