Joseph-François Salomon - Médée et Jason (Reinoud Van Mechelen)

Information

Composer: Joseph-François Salomon

• Médée et Jason

Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur

Mélissa Petit

Lore Binon

Annelies van Gramberen

Cyril Costanzo

Chœur de Chambre de Namur

A Nocte Temporis

Reinoud Van Mechelen, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Château de Versailles Spectacles

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Joseph-François Salomon (1649–1732)’s Médée et Jason (1713), revived by Reinoud Van Mechelen and his ensemble a nocte temporis, offers a compelling alternative to the better-known Médée by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Though largely forgotten today, the opera enjoyed notable success in the 18th century, including revivals at La Monnaie in Brussels. Abbé Simon-Joseph Pellegrin’s libretto presents a deeply psychological reading of the myth, portraying characters plagued by doubt and moral conflict. Salomon’s score heightens this emotional complexity through vivid melodies and striking instrumental writing, resulting in a dramatically engaging and expressive work.

Reinoud Van Mechelen (born 1987 in Flemish Brabant) is a Belgian tenor known internationally for his performances in opera and concert, particularly in historically informed interpretations of French Baroque music. After early musical training with Clari Cantuli, he studied at the Leuven and Brussels Conservatories under prominent teachers such as Lena Lootens and William Christie, graduating in 2012. He has sung with major ensembles including Les Arts Florissants, Collegium Vocale Gent, and Le Concert Spirituel, performing at leading festivals across Europe. In 2016, he founded the ensemble a nocte temporis, devoted to French music, with which he has released several acclaimed recordings.