Commissioned to celebrate the marriage of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and Marie Thérèse of Spain, the original production of Cavalli’s Ercole Amante took two years to complete and, at the time, was the grandest show ever performed in Europe. DNO’s contemporary, hilarious and surreal production, directed by David Alden, is a triumph of opera buffa, a riot of decoration and symbolism complemented by Constance Hoffman’s exceptional costumes. Luca Pisaroni’s Ercole is heroic and melodious in turn, Veronica Cangemi is a splendid Iole, and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera and Concerto Köln give a sublime performance under Ivor Bolton, a master of baroque music. An outstanding production, filmed in High Definition and surround sound.

Ercole: Luca Pisaroni
Iole: Veronica Cangemi
Giunone: Anna Bonitatibus
Illo: Jeremy Ovenden
Deianira: Anna Maria Panzarella
Licco: Marlin Miller
Nettuno/Tevere/Spirit of Eutyro: Umberto Chiummo
Bellezza/Venere: Wilke te Brummelstroete
Cinzia/Pasitea/Spirit of Clerica: Johannette Zomer
Mercurio/Spirit of Laomedonte: Mark Tucker
A Page/Spirit of Bussiride: Tim Mead

Concerto Köln
Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera
Conductor: Ivor Bolton
Stage Director: David Alden

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