Surprising Royer

Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer (1703-1755)

Suite d’orchestre de l’opera–ballet Almasis – Program Notes by Ronald Royer

The opera-ballet Almasis was first performed on February 26, 1748 in the theatre in the Petits Appartements of Versailles for the entertainment of King Louis XV of France and his close family and friends. As was common at this time, the main roles in the production and some of the instruments of the orchestra were performed by court aristocrats, and Madame de Pompadour, the King’s mistress, performed the title role. Royer’s works were popular at Versailles, and Almasis was performed again there in 1749. The opera was then premiered in Paris on August 23, 1750 at the Theatre of the Acadamie Royale de Musique.

Having developed an interest in the music of Pancrace Royer, Ronald Royer made two trips to Paris, in 1998 and 1999, to study the original manuscripts of Pancrace’s music. Mr. Royer created a modern edition of Pancrace Royer’s orchestra music from Almasis for the Sinfonia Mississaugua performance on March 5, 2000. This was the first performance of Almasis in nearly two hundred and fifty years. In 2021 Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset, recorded the Overture and Five Dances from Ronald Royer’s edition, for their Surprising Royer album.