The Choice of Hercules (Handel)
Encyclopedia
The Choice of Hercules is an oratorio
in one act (three scenes) by George Frideric Handel
. Handel produced the score between 28 June and 5 July 1750. The first performance was given on 1 March 1751 at the Covent Garden Theatre
, London
. The libretto
is probably the work of Thomas Morell
.
The story centres on the Choice of Hercules, in which the youthful Hercules must decide between the paths of pleasure and virtue. These are represented by two women who present their various arguments to Hercules, and his confusion is articulated in the trio Where shall I go?. Even though it is not made clear which path Hercules chooses, it seems likely that Virtue wins the day as she orders him to follow her.
A typical performance takes almost 50 minutes.
The work includes the notable aria
Yet can I hear that dulcet lay.
:
at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, Boston
on 5 November 2005. Bampton Classical Opera
will be giving two performances of the work in 2011-12.
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
in one act (three scenes) by George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
. Handel produced the score between 28 June and 5 July 1750. The first performance was given on 1 March 1751 at the Covent Garden Theatre
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
is probably the work of Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell was a librettist, classical scholar, and printer.Morell is important for having written the longest and most detailed surviving account of collaboration with Handel.-Librettos:...
.
The story centres on the Choice of Hercules, in which the youthful Hercules must decide between the paths of pleasure and virtue. These are represented by two women who present their various arguments to Hercules, and his confusion is articulated in the trio Where shall I go?. Even though it is not made clear which path Hercules chooses, it seems likely that Virtue wins the day as she orders him to follow her.
A typical performance takes almost 50 minutes.
The work includes the notable aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
Yet can I hear that dulcet lay.
Dramatis personae
- Hercules (alto)
- Pleasure (soprano)
- Virtue (soprano)
- An Attendant on Pleasure (tenor)
- Chorus
Movements
The work has the following movementsMovement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
:
| Movement | Type | Character | Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinfonia | ||
| 2 | Accompagnato | Pleasure | See Hercules! how smiles yon myrtle plain |
| 3 | Air | Pleasure | Come, blooming boy |
| 4 | Air | Pleasure | There the brisk sparkling nectar drain |
| 5 | Solo and Chorus | Pleasure | While for thy arms that beauty glows |
| 6 | Recitative | Virtue | Away, mistaken wretch, away! |
| 7 | Air | Virtue | This manly youth's exalted mind |
| 8 | Recitative | Virtue | Rise, youth! exalt thyself and me |
| 9 | Air | Virtue | Go, assert thy heav'nly race |
| 10 | Recitative | Virtue | In peace, in war |
| 11 | Solo and Chorus | Virtue | So shalt thou gain immortal praise |
| 12 | Recitative | Pleasure | Hearst thou, what dangers then thou must engage? |
| 13 | Solo and Chorus | Pleasure | Turn thee, youth, to joy and love |
| 14 | Recitative | Pleasure and Hercules | Short is my way, fair, easy, smooth and plain |
| 15 | Air | Hercules | Yet, can I hear that dulcet lay |
| 16 | Air | Attendant on Pleasure | Enjoy the sweet Elysian grove |
| 17 | Recitative | Hercules | Oh! whither, reason, dost thou fly? |
| 18 | Trio | Hercules, Pleasure and Virtue | Where shall I go? |
| 19 | Recitative | Virtue | Mount, mount the steep ascent |
| 20 | Air | Virtue | Mount, mount the steep ascent |
| 21 | Chorus | Arise! mount the steep ascent | |
| 22 | Recitative | Hercules | The sounds breathe fire |
| 23 | Air | Hercules | Lead, goddess, lead the way! |
| 24 | Chorus | Virtue will place thee in that blest abode | |
Recordings
Hyperion Records label received the 2003 International Handel Recording Prize for their recording of The Choice of Hercules. The cast included:- Conductor: Robert KingRobert KingRobert King may refer to:Robert King*Robert King, 4th Earl of Kingston , Irish peer, soldier and Whig politician*Robert King, Bishop of Oxford Robert King may refer to:Robert King*Robert King, 4th Earl of Kingston (1796–1867), Irish peer, soldier and Whig politician*Robert King, Bishop of Oxford...
- Pleasure: Susan GrittonSusan GrittonSusan Gritton is an English soprano.Susan Gritton was educated at the University of Oxford and the University of London, where she studied Botany....
- Virtue: Alice CooteAlice CooteAlice Coote is a British lyric mezzo-soprano.The daughter of the painter Mark Coote, she was educated at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London , the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Opera Studio...
- Hercules: Robin BlazeRobin Blaze- Childhood and education :The son of a professional golfer Peter, Robin Blaze grew up in Shadwell, near Leeds and was educated at Leeds Grammar School, Uppingham School, and Magdalen College, Oxford....
- An Attendant on Pleasure: Charles DanielsCharles Daniels (tenor)Charles Daniels is an English tenor, particularly noted for his performances of baroque music. He is a frequent soloist with The King's Consort, and has made over 25 recordings with the ensemble on the Hyperion label.-Biography:...
- The Choir of The King's ConsortThe King's ConsortThe King's Consort is a prominent British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King . The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have made over 90 recordings, largely on the Hyperion label, and sold...
- The King's ConsortThe King's ConsortThe King's Consort is a prominent British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King . The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have made over 90 recordings, largely on the Hyperion label, and sold...
Productions
The work was produced by Boston CeciliaBoston Cecilia
The Boston Cecilia is a choral society in Boston, Massachusetts, which is in its 132nd season. Founded in 1876, the ensemble has enjoyed historic relationships with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and famous conductors and composers, such as Arthur Fiedler, Igor Stravinsky, and Antonín Dvořák...
at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on 5 November 2005. Bampton Classical Opera
Bampton Classical Opera
Bampton Classical Opera is an opera company based in Bampton, Oxfordshire specialising in the production of lesser known opera from the Classical period...
will be giving two performances of the work in 2011-12.
External links
- Complete Libretto hosted by the University of Stanford.
- Program notes by Boston CeciliaBoston CeciliaThe Boston Cecilia is a choral society in Boston, Massachusetts, which is in its 132nd season. Founded in 1876, the ensemble has enjoyed historic relationships with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and famous conductors and composers, such as Arthur Fiedler, Igor Stravinsky, and Antonín Dvořák...
. - Sleeve notes from the Hyperion recording
- Richard Dyer, Cecilia opens with 'Choice' Handel (review of Boston Cecilia production), The Boston Globe, 8 November 2005
- Review of Hyperion recording gfhandel.org