Organization

Conductor

Ivor Bolton

Stage director

David Alden

Set designer

Paul Steinberg

Costume designer

Constance Hoffman

Lighting designer

Adam Silverman

Choreographer

Michael Keegan-Dolan

Singer

Bass

Vito Priante

Nettuno

Tevere

NettunoTevereOmbra di Eutiro

Soprano

Wilke te Brummelstroete

La Bellezza

Venere

Gaële Le Roi

Cinzia

Pasitea

Contralto

Ombra di Clerica

Tenor

Mark Tucker

Mercurio

Ombra di Laomedonte

Tim Mead

Paggio

Ombra di Bussiride

Luca Pisaroni

Ercole

Veronica Cangemi

Iole

Anna Bonitatibus

Giunone

Jeremy Ovenden

Illo

Anna-Maria Panzarella

Deianira

Marlin Miller

Licco

Jonathan Lunn

De Nationale Opera

Others

Concerto Köln

Ercole amante -  (Hercules in Love)

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Dutch National Opera & Ballet

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.

Ercole amante Cavalli

Public

Hercules in Love

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading