Handel - Hercules / Shimell, DiDonato, Spence, Bohlin, Ernman, Kirkbride, Les Arts Florissants, Christie, Luc Bondy (Opera de Paris 2005)
by Luc Bondy, Vincent Bataillon
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ingela Bohlin, Joyce DiDonato, Malena Ernman, William Christie, William ShimellDirector: Luc Bondy, Vincent Bataillon
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Classical, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 190 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-01-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Bel Air Classiques
Movie Reviews of Handel - Hercules / Shimell, DiDonato, Spence, Bohlin, Ernman, Kirkbride, Les Arts Florissants, Christie, Luc Bondy (Opera de Paris 2005)
Movie Review: Handel + Hercules = Amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an extraordinary opportunity to see a (fairly) rarely performed musical drama of Handel - a work debated as both opera and oratorio (depending on whos doing the arguing). It is a first rate performance and should engage the passions, intelligence and emotions of anyone viewing it, from the very beginning. The first moment that truly wrecked me was the chorus "O filial piety, courageous love" where the populace comfort, then ready Hyllus for his journey. It was an absolutely perfect moment and Toby Spence's silent, moving reactions to the people was amazing. Then we see DiDonato's Dejanira, so mournful and disconsolate it was heartbreaking to watch as she desperately hangs onto her son's shirt, seizing his arm - as he takes leave of her - a profoundly moving stage picture wed to music of exquisite and delicate beauty.
I couldn't help but share in the joy and excitement during the announcement of Hercules' return and the march preceding his arrival. Then Iole's stunning lament "Peaceful rest, dear parent shade" was sung with such clean line and simplicity by Ingela Bohlin that I had to stop the disc and repeat it. Here again, Bondy's staging captures every element of the music and drama and the camera follows its flow in its own musical direction - simply amazing.
The first act ends with one of Handel's most unusual choruses - "Crown with festal pomp the day." The first time I heard this I wondered if it was really composed by Handel or inserted years later, so modern does it sound. Indeed, this score is one of Handel's most unusual, where there is the "typical" Handelian sound, much of it seems to look forward to where music was "going" (the best composers often have this trait). In fact most of the choruses (especially with the thrilling effects Christie draws from the chorus - as in "Wanton god of am'rous fires! Sheesh!).
If at the beginning I felt Toby Spence not as intense as Croft in the recent CD recording, the younger tenor certainly pulled me strongly into his camp with From celestial seats descending - one of the most beautiful arias (and beautifully performed) in this entire work. His performance from hereon for me took on remarkable depth of character and he was nothing if not heartwrenching.
As good - or wonderful as everyone is, the performance of the night goes to Miss DiDonato. She continues to impress me with everything she does. I first heard her live in newer works, such as Dead Man Walking and Little Women, and since have been wowed by her performances of everything else, especially Rossini. Her performance here equals in intensity (of an entirely different sort) that of her Sister Helen in Dead Man. Her range of physical gestures and natural ability in acting is tremendous.
Handel's work in recitative is nothing less than astonishing throughout here, and the cast performs them (particularly DiDonato) with startling theatricality and power.
There are too many highlights to mention, but I'm grateful to have been turned on to this performance - I know I'll probably be playing it for the rest of the week, trying to absorb it all. In only his second baroque work Bondy has, joined Peter Sellars in his "Theodora" staging in creating viable, theatrically compelling and visually exciting Handel operas out of works hitherto primarily known as "oratorios" and not opera, showing the wealth of musical drama Handel could wring from a story.
How blessed we are to live in an era of directors capable of taking what previously had been wrongfully assumed to be lovely if dull oratorios and breathing into them the drama we knew always existed in these works all long. This Hercules, like the recent Theodora, show that, in the right hands Handel's music dramas can be every bit as potent as Shakespeare. Bravos all around to all involved in this wonderful performance. This is one of the finest DVD performances released in 2004 - or any year!
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