King Arthur (Le roi Arthus)

“The Bard production, directed by Louisa Proske, is scenically spare but richly costumed and dramatically effective. And Botstein, leading the American Symphony Orchestra, an impressive cast and the excellent Bard Festival Chorale, made a compelling case for the piece.”—New York Times

Idealism, treachery, honor, and perfidy collide in this richly lyrical opera by French composer Ernest Chausson. This opulently scored work, which premiered in 1903, lays bare the tragedy of King Arthur’s betrayal at the hands of his queen Genièvre and his trusted knight Lancelot.

Considered one of the finest examples of French romanticism, King Arthur (Le roi Arthus) was composer Chausson’s only opera—his own composing career was tragically cut short by his early death at age 44.

Performed by a stellar cast, helmed by baritone Norman Garrett, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and tenor Matthew White, this production of King Arthur takes us to a world in the midst of upheaval where long-standing codes of honor and loyalty no longer hold sway.

Estimated run time is 3 hrs 30 minutes, including two 20-minute intermissions.

Arrivals
All attendees are encouraged to arrive 30–60 minutes before the performance begins. Please arrive no later than 20 minutes before curtain. Upon arrival, please provide the name assigned to your reservation at Will Call. Tickets will not be mailed.

Live, In-Person Protocols
In light of recent New York State guidance, we have decided to open our indoor performances to full capacity with no social distancing. By asking audience members to provide proof of vaccination, or a negative PCR result from the last 72 hours, or a negative antigen result from the last six hours, we can safely open up our theaters to all. For all indoor performances, face masks are required.