Juan Sancho in “Roland” in Versailles

On March 9, 2026, at the Opera Royal Chateu de Versailles, Juan Sancho sings the role of Médor in a concert performance of Jean Baptiste Lully’s “Roland”, with the Ensemble I Gemelli conducted by Emiliano González Toro and Mathilde Étienne. The renowned cast also includes Jérôme Boutillier in the title role, Karine Deshayes as Angélique, Alix Le Saux as Logistiller, Lila Dufy as Témire, Victor Sicard as Demogorgon, Morgan Mastrangelo as Coridon and Astolfe, Nicolas Brooymans as Ziliante, a follower, Pierre-Emmanuel Roubet as Tersandre, and Camille Souquère as Bélize, a servant. A mature collaboration between Lully and Quinault, “Roland” (1685) belongs to a trilogy of epic-inspired operas that depart from traditional mythological tragédies lyriques. Positioned between Amadis and Armide, it draws on a celebrated episode from Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso”, portraying the knight’s descent into love-stricken madness after betrayal.

Juan Sancho, internationally regarded as one of today’s foremost interpreters of Baroque repertoire, has enjoyed repeated acclaim at the Opéra Royal de Versailles. His appearances there include the title roles in “La morte d’Orfeo” and Vinci’s “Catone in Utica”, Giove and Telemaco in Monteverdi’s “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria”, and Cosroe in “Siroe, re di Persia”, performances that have confirmed his authority and stylistic distinction in the 17th- and 18th-century repertoire.