The Song of Roland

A sprawling medieval epic opens with the mighty Frankish ruler Charlemagne pressing his conquest deep into Spain, where the Saracen king Marsile clings to his mountain stronghold. In the glittering court of Sarraguce, Marsile’s council of warlords debates desperate options, from offering tribute and hostages to striking uneasy alliances. The clever pagan adviser Blancandrin proposes a treacherous bargain, promising the Frankish king peace in exchange for wealth and the surrender of Christian hostages.

Meanwhile the French forces, led by bold knights such as Oliver and the heroic Roland, press the siege of the fortified town of Cordres. Their catapults roar, gold and jewels glitter in the spoils, and the tension between honor and strategy builds as both sides weigh the cost of war. Listeners will be drawn into the clash of faiths, the weight of loyalty, and the looming danger that threatens to reshape the destiny of both kingdoms.