Ercole amante / Hercule amoureux (1662)

Original id: 
10758
Start date: 
7 February 1662
Degree of relationship to ancient play: 
Distant relative
Production notes: 
Buti based his libretto for this 'tragedia' on Ovid's Metamorphoses IX, but it is likely that he was also influenced by Sophocles and/or Seneca. Cardinal Mazarin comissioned the opera in the celebration of Louis XIV's marriage to the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa; the libretto was printed in Italian and in French. The production of the opera included interval ballets ('Vers du Ballet royal dansé par Leurs Maiestez entre les actes') by Isaac de Benserade and Lully. The opera was not successful and it was not repeated in France. According to the New Grove Opera article on the opera, a modern production took place in London in 1980, and a recording was issued in 1981. Another production took place at the Nederlandse Opera, conducted by Ivor Bolton and directed by David Alden.
Media of production: 
Choreographic work (dance, ballet, mime etc)
Opera, musical and related genres
Languages: 
French
Italian

Information related to this production

Person Role Notes
Paolo Bordignone Singer Netunno and Ombra del re Eutyro, bass
Francesco Buti (1604-1682) Librettist
Francesco Cavalli (1602-1676) Composer
Giuseppe Chiarini Singer Licco
Issac de Benserade (1613-1691) Choreographer - Ballet
[female] Hylaire Singer Venere
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) Composer - Ballets
Piccini Singer Ercole, bass
Tagliavacca Singer Mercurio, tenor
Venue Festival Dates Notes
Tuileries (Paris, Île-de-France, France) 16 January, 1662 in the Salle des Machines

How to cite this production

Ercole amante / Hercule amoureux (1662), accessed at http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/productions/production/10758 <19 March 2024>