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Francesco Cavalli/Jean-Baptiste Lully, Ercole amante, opera in a prologue and five acts

Prologo: Sinfonia - Qual concorso indovino (Chorus, Tevere, Cinzia)

Première Entrée (Ballet): The King, representing the House of France

Deuxième Entrée (Ballet): Air for the House of Austria

I: Scena Prima: Come si beffa Amor del poter mio! (Ercole)

I: Scena Seconda: Se ninfa ai pianti (Venere, Chorus, Ercole)

I: Scena Terza: E vuol dunque ciprigna (Giunone)

Troisième Entrée (Ballet): Lightning and Storms

II: Scena Prima: Amor ardor più rari (Hyllo, Iole)

II: Scena Seconda: Ercole a dirti invia (Paggio, Iole, Hyllo)

II: Scena Terza: E che cosa è quest’amore (Paggio)

II: Scena Quarta: Buon dì, gentil fanciullo (Licco, Paggio, Deianira)

II: Scena Quinta: Misera, ohimè, ch’ascolto (Deianira, Licco)

II: Scena Quinta: Mormorate o fiumicelli (Pasithea, Chorus)

II: Scena Quinta: O dèa, sublime dèa (Pasithea, Giunone)

Quatrième Entrée (Ballet): The Dreams

III: Scena Prima: Sol s’inarcan gli emisferi (Venere, Ercole)

III: Scena Seconda: Sarà com’hai disposto (Ercole, Paggio)

III: Scena Terza: Bella Iole, e quando mai sentirai (Ercole, Iole, Hyllo)

III: Scena Quarta: E tu a che pensi, Iole? (Ercole, Iole)

III: Scena Quinta: Sonno, potente nume (Giunone, Iole)

III: Scena Sesta: D’Eutyro anima grande (Iole, Hyllo)

III: Scena Settima: Svegliati Alcide, e mira (Mercurio, Ercole, Iole, Hyllo)

III: Scena Ottava: Più di salvarlo tenti (Deianira, Licco, Ercole, Iole)

III: Scena Nona: Figlio, tu prigioniero? (Deianira, Hyllo)

III: Scena Decima: A dio, Paggio (Licco, Paggio)

Cinquième Entrée (Ballet): Concert de Guittares

IV: Scena Prima: Ahi che pena è gelosia (Hyllo)

IV: Scena Seconda: Zefiri che gite (Paggio, Hyllo)

IV: Scena Terza: E non si trova (Hyllo)

IV: Scena Quarta: Salva, Nettuno (Giunone, Nettuno, Hyllo)

IV: Scena Quinta: Dunque del mio potere (Giunoni, Hyllo)

Sixième Entrée (Ballet): The Breezes

IV: Scena Sesta: Ed a che peggio i fati ahi mi serbaro? (Deianira, Licco)

IV: Scena Settima: Gradisci o re (Chorus, Iole, Eutyro, Licco)

Septième Entrée (Ballet): The Spirits and the Ladies

V: Scena Prima: Come solo ad un grido (Eutyro, Chorus, Clerica, Laomedonte, Bussiride)

V: Scena Seconda: Alfine il ciel d’Amor (Ercole, Licco, Iole, Chorus, Deianira)

V: Scena Terza: Veggio, o di veder parmi? (Iole, Deianira, Licco, Hyllo)

V: Scena Quarta: Su, su, allegrezza (Giunone, Iole, Hyllo, Deianira, Licco)

Neuvième Entrée: Ballet of the Seven Planets

V: Scena Quinta: Quel grand’eroe (Chorus, Bellezza, Ercole)

Dix-huitième Entrée: Galliard for the Stars

Cavalli's Hercules (Ercole amante)

David Alden (stage director), Ivor Bolton (conductor) — With Luca Pisaroni (Ercole), Veronica Cangemi (Iole), Anna Bonitatibus (Giunone)

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Cast

David Alden — Stage director

Paul Steinberg — Set designer

Constance Hoffman — Costumes designer

Adam Silverman — Lighting designer

Jonathan Lunn — Choreographer

Leena Keizer — Dancer

Sophy Ribrault — Dancer

Program notes

In 1662, Francesco Cavalli—onetime protégé of Monteverdi—premiered Ercole Amante (Hercules in Love) in Paris to celebrate the marriage of Louis XIV to Maria Theresa of Spain. It was a truly Baroque celebration: the opera’s grandiose mythology was matched by an accompanying allegorical conceit equating Hercules with the Sun King and the goddess Hebe with his new bride. And the monarchs, nobles and aristocrats on hand were not merely an audience—they were incorporated into the work! Louis XIV himself starred in the ballet numbers written by Lully for this sumptuous opera, unprecedented in the scope of its duration, music, machinery, scenery and costumes.

Maestro Ivor Bolton, with the world-class Nederlandse Opera Choir and Concerto Köln, highlights the work’s most striking and novel elements: powerful choral numbers, sublimely atmospheric orchestral moments, and, of course, electrifying dance sequences. David Alden brings this iconic title to the stage with arresting ostentation, navigating parody and symbolism to the glorious music of Lully and Cavalli, while the expert cast brings the immortal myth of Hercules to life.

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