Musical drama in 3 acts
Libretto: Thomas Broughton
Recorded: 2004, Festival Aix-en-Provence
Hercules - William Shimell
Dejanira - Joyce Didonato
Hyllus - Toby Spence
Iole - Ingela Bohlin
Lichas - Malena Ernman
Priest of Jupiter - Simon Kirkbride
Having shared the evening at the Barbican with SF ( Musical Pointers had not qualified for press tickets) and been reluctant to return after the too-long awaited interval, we have been astonished by the inspired DVD, which has made sense for us in retrospect of the acclamation this production had received when new.
The mainly close-up filming (all the singers marvellously photogenic and living their characters) focused attention on the slowly unfolding drama of grief, hope and disappointment leading to despair, retribution and madness; a heady brew.
Sub-titles (not provided in the Barbican theatre) were essential to grasp fully the language of Broughton's libretto, the meanings of which would often be hard to decipher and comprehend unaided whatever effort was put into diction.
Luc Bondy's stage direction has innumerable subtleties, some funny and simultaneously moving moments - e.g. kitting out Toby Spence, the splendid Hyllus, with map, camera, thermos and laptop for his imminent departure to search for his father, encouraged by the chorus, treated here as individuals whilst singing Handel's " O filial piety, courageous love", was a choice example.
One could give numerous other examples of the fascinating counterpoint between music, text and filming which makes this a DVD which stands up to repeated viewing with undiminished pleasure and wonder. DiDonato's intense acting whilst negotiating music of extreme difficulty with complete naturalness is a marvel to experience.
---Peter Grahame Woolf, musicalpointers |
[ NTSC ]