Händel, Hercules: Budapest Spring Festival

O akci

Händel's "Hercules" will be presented as a semi‐staged performance at the Budapest Spring Festival.

Premiered in 1745, Hercules is one of Händel’s most brilliant works. Written for an English libretto, the composition is an oratorio, originally performed in concert form, just as the opera Semele had been. The literary foundations (Sophocles: Women of Trachis) and the musical material, however, make for a genuinely dramatic work, fit for the stage: it is a true opera, or what Händel called a musical drama. Experts concur that the composer, who was well versed in the intricacies of the female heart, is particularly successful in this piece at sensitively representing the myriad shades of womanly passion. Played in Hungary for the first time, we owe this production – like so many as‐yet‐undiscovered Händel compositions recently – to György Vashegyi and his ensembles, the Orfeo Orchestra and the Purcell Choir. The director is Csaba Káel.

Prior to the concert, at 6 pm, Gergely Fazekas will discuss the production with conductor György Vashegyi. Entry is free for concert ticket holders.

Handel: Hercules – Hungarian premiere / semi‐staged concert
Hercules: István Kovács
Dejanira, wife of Hercules: Viktória Vizin
Iole, daughter of Eurytos: Katalin Szutrély
Hyllus, son of Hercules: Zoltán Megyesi
Lichas, a herald: Péter Bárány
Conductor: György Vashegyi
Featuring: Orfeo Orchestra, Purcell Choir
Director: Csaba Káel

Musical drama in three acts.
Organised jointly with Palace of Arts.