Le Roi et le fermier made Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny famous in France and beyond. Set in an evocative and at times stormy Sherwood Forest it tells of a King’s encounter with a humble farmer, blending comedy with serious issues. Its numerous innovations foreshadow Romanticism, making it a milestone in operatic history, with librettist Michel-Jean Sedaine admiring Monsigny’s daring in taking “the risk of setting a new genre to music”.

This première recording follows another highly successful Monsigny release, Le Déserteur (8660263-64) which Opera Canada described as making “a strong case for the rehabilitation of [this] French composer”. Opera Lafayette’s debut of Le Roi et le fermier at the Opera Royal in Versailles was acclaimed by Opéra Magazine (France), stating that “this production should be noted and remembered in the annals of Versailles, for the intelligence of its staging, the beauty of its sets, and its high musical quality.” This release has international significance, and with a star cast and Opera Lafayette’s superlative orchestra and production standards it will be one of our early music operatic standard bearers for many years to come.