Handel: Hercules

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Hercules has never quite occupied the place it merits in the Handel canon, even though it includes some of his most powerfully dramatic music. This is understood by Marc Minkowski, whose intentions... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 1st Mar 2002
Catalogue No: E4695322
Label: DG Archiv
Length: 2 hours 56 minutes

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Handel: Hercules

Work length2:55:37

$58.90

$79.70

David Daniels (alto), Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Michel Maldonado (double bass), Yvon Repérant (harpsichord), Claire Giardelli (cello), Mirella Giardelli (organ), Richard Croft (tenor), Sébastian Rouland (chorus master), Lynne Dawson (soprano), Gidon Saks (bass), Marcos Pujol (bass)
Les Musiciens du Louvre, Chorus Of Les Musiciens Du Louvre
Marc Minkowski
Recorded: 2000-04
Recording Venue: Theatre, Salle Molière, Poissy

Overture

Track length4:32

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Menuetto

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Recit. acc. "See with what sad dejection"

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Aria: "No longer, Fate, relentless frown"

Track length5:45

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Recit. acc.: "O Hercules! why art thou absent from me"

Track length0:50

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Aria: "The world, when day's career is run"

Track length4:30

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Recit: "Princess! be comforted, and hope the best"

Track length1:25

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Aria: "I feel, I feel the god"

Track length1:33

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Recit.: "He said, the sacred fury left his breast"

Track length0:58

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Aria: "There in myrtle shades reclined"

Track length3:21

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Recit.: "Despair not; but let rising hope suspend"

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Aria: "Where congealed the northern streams"

Track length1:53

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Chorus: "O filial piety! O generous love!"

Track length5:18

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Recit.: "Banish your fears!"

Track length0:30

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Aria: "Begone, my fears, fly, hence, away"

Track length3:26

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Recit: "A train of captives, red with honest wounds"

Track length0:54

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Aria: "The smiling hours"

Track length1:20

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Chorus: "Let none despair"

Track length2:25

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March

Track length1:49

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Recit: "Thanks to the powers above"

Track length1:27

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Aria: "My father! Ah! methinks I see"

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Recit.: "Now farewell, arms!"

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Aria: "The god of battle"

Track length2:23

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Recit.: "Ah me! How soon the flatterer hope"

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Aria: "Daughter of gods, bright liberty"

Track length5:55

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Chorus: "Crown with festal pomp the day"

Track length2:28

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Sinfonia

Track length1:11

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Recit.: "Why was I born a princess"

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Aria: "How blest the maid ordained to dwell"

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Recit.: "It must be so"

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Aria: "When beauty sorrow's liv'ry wears"

Track length2:47

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Recit: "Whence this unjust suspicion?"

Track length1:10

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Aria: "Ah! think what ills the jealous prove"

Track length5:52

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Recit: "It is too sure that Hercules is false"

Track length0:19

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Recit.: "In vain you strive"

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Chorus: "Jealousy! Infernal pest"

Track length5:17

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Recit: "She knows my passion"

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Aria: "Banish love from thy breast"

Track length2:17

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Recit.: "Forgive a passion"

Track length0:10

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Aria: "From celestial seats descending"

Track length5:36

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Chorus: "Wanton god of amorous fires"

Track length2:03

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Recit.: "Yes, I congratulate"

Track length0:44

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Aria: "Alcides' name in latest story"

Track length4:47

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Recit.: "O glorious pattern of heroic deeds!"

Track length0:29

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Aria: "Resign thy club and lion's spoils"

Track length4:55

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Recit: "You are deceived! Some villain has belied"

Track length1:29

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Aria: "Cease, ruler of the day, to rise"

Track length3:49

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Recit: "Some kinder power inspire me to regain"

Track length1:26

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Aria: "As stars, that rise and disappear"

Track length3:54

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Recit.: "But see, the princess Iole"

Track length1:15

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Duet: "Joys of freedom, joys of power"

Track length2:32

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Recit.: "Father of Hercules"

Track length0:17

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Chorus: "Love and Hymen"

Track length3:55

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Sinfonia

Track length3:53

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Recit: "Ye sons of Trachin, mourn you valiant chief"

Track length1:26

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Aria: "O scene of unexampled woe"

Track length3:06

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Chorus: "Tyrants now no more shall dread"

Track length4:14

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Recit. acc: "O Jove! what land is this"

Track length2:23

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Recit: "Great Jove! relieve his pains!"

Track length2:09

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Aria: "Let not fame the tidings spread"

Track length4:03

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Recit. acc: "Where shall I fly?"

Track length6:13

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Recit: "Lo! the fair fatal cause of all this ruin!"

Track length1:16

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Aria: "My breast with tender pity swells"

Track length6:49

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Recit: "Princess, rejoice! whose heaven-directed hand"

Track length1:46

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Aria: "He, who for Atlas prop'd the sky"

Track length1:50

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Recit: "Words are too faint"

Track length1:06

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Duet: "O prince, whose virtues all admire"

Track length3:26

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Recit.: "Ye sons of freedom"

Track length0:17

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Chorus: "To him your grateful notes of praise belong"

Track length2:35

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Reviews
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Reviews

2010

Hercules has never quite occupied the place it merits in the Handel canon, even though it includes some of his most powerfully dramatic music. This is understood by Marc Minkowski, whose intentions towards the work are made clear frm the start of the Overture. But he's also intent on maintaining its dramatic pace and emphasising its range of feeling. His cast is well able to share his dramatic vision. Von Otter excels as Dejanira. This, rather than Hercules himself, is the central role, carrying the work's chief expressive weight. There's some beautifully shaped singing as in her opening air she mourns Hercules' absence, and she copes well with Minkowski's demanding tempo in 'Begone, my fears'. Lynne Dawson makes a delightful Iole, crystalline, airy, rhythmic, but able to call on more intensity where needed. 'My breast with tender pity swells' is truly lovely. Lichas' music is done with refinement but also vigour by David Daniels. Richard Croft, though often hurried by Minkowski, sings much of Hyllus' music with elegance, and his delicate sustained pianissimo in the da capo of 'From celestial seats descending', one of the most inspired pieces in the score, is remarkable. The choral singing is strong, secure, responsive, though the French choir is rather less euphonious than the best English ones. The orchestral playing is duly alert. This account benefits from fewer cuts than his rival Gardiner and superior solo singing.

2010

Marc Minkowski conducts an urgently dramatic account of Handel's music-drama...von Otter gives a vividly characterful performance which, with fine gradation of tone and expression, brings out the full range of emotion inplied...Gidon Saks sings with fine, clear focus, not as weighty as many a traditional Handelian bass, but firm and dark.

Handel: Hercules

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