South India, its temples and rituals: can one imagine this exotic setting as the origin of King David? In this oratorio, where the chorus is predominant, the drama is all the more poignant, for the music draws its inspiration both from the biblical narrative and from a rich musical tapestry woven with influences from Bach, Handel, Fauré, Debussy, and Stravinsky, set against a lush orchestra of woodwinds, brass, and percussion. "My essential desire is neither to astonish nor even to charm, but to move," declared Honegger. An essential rediscovery.