The Choice of Hercules (Handel)
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| Oratorios by George Frideric Handel |
|---|
Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (1707) |
The Choice of Hercules (HWV 69) 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 need of a youthful Hercules to 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.[citation needed]
A typical performance takes almost 50 minutes.
The work includes the notable aria Yet can I hear that dulcet lay.
Contents |
[edit] Dramatis personae
- Hercules (alto)
- Pleasure (soprano)
- Virtue (soprano)
- An Attendant on Pleasure (tenor)
- Chorus
[edit] Movements
The work has the following movements:
| 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 |
[edit] Recordings
Hyperion Records label received the 2003 International Handel Recording Prize for their recording of The Choice of Herclues. The cast included:
- Conductor: Robert King
- Pleasure: Susan Gritton
- Virtue: Alice Coote
- Hercules: Robin Blaze
- An Attendant on Pleasure: Charles Daniels
- The Choir of The King's Consort
- The King's Consort
[edit] Productions
The work was produced by Boston Cecilia at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, Boston on 5 November 2005.
