oratorio
An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...
in one act (three scenes) by
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...
. 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
The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
with
Cecilia Young
Cecilia Young (also Cecilia Arne) (January 1712 – 6 October 1789) was one of the greatest English sopranos of the eighteenth century, the wife of composer Thomas Arne, and the mother of composer Michael Arne. According to the music historian Cha ...
as Virtue,
Isabella Young
Isabella Young (also Isabella Scott) (17?, London – 12 August 1791, London) was an English mezzo-soprano and organist who had a successful career as a concert performer and opera singer during the latter half of the eighteenth century. Young bec ...
as Hercules, and
Thomas Lowe Thomas or Tom Lowe may refer to:
*Thomas Lowe (tenor) (1719–1783), English opera singer and actor
* Thomas Lowe (priest) (1781–1861), Anglican Dean of Exeter
* Thomas Lowe (politician) (1812–1875), mayor of Atlanta, 1861
* Thomas Hunter Lowe ...
as attendant. The
libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
is derived from the poem (1743) of Robert Lowth but revised, probably, by
Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell (; 18 March 1703 – 19 February 1784) was an English librettist, classical scholar, and printer.Choice of Hercules, in which the youthful Hercules must 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?''. The classical myth of "the choice of Hercules," as told by the 5th-century Athenian sophist Prodicus (Xenophon ''Memorabilia'' 2.1.21-34), anticipates that Hercules will choose to follow Virtue's path. And, indeed, the Chorus sings ( Chorus, 24) that "Virtue will place thee in that blest abode, Crown'd with immortal youth, Among the gods a god!"
The character of The Attendant on Pleasure is introduced into this version of the ''Choice of Hercules'' and complicates Hercules' choice (Air, 16).
A typical performance takes almost 50 minutes.
The work includes the notable
aria
In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...
''Yet can I hear that dulcet lay''.
Dramatis personae
* Hercules (alto)
* Pleasure (soprano)
* Virtue (alto)
* An Attendant on Pleasure (tenor)
* Chorus
Movements
The work has the following
movements
Movement may refer to:
Common uses
* Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece
* Motion, commonly referred to as movement
Arts, entertainment, and media
Literature
* "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...
:
Recordings
Hyperion Records label received the 2003 International Handel Recording Prize for their recording of ''The Choice of Hercules''.
* Conductor: Robert King
* Pleasure:
Susan Gritton
Susan Gritton (born 31 August 1965) is an English operatic soprano. She was the 1994 winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award and has sung leading roles in a wide-ranging repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Britten, Janáček and Strauss.
Life a ...
* Virtue:
Alice Coote
Alice Coote OBE (born 10 May 1968) is a British lyric mezzo-soprano.
Life
Coote was born in Frodsham, Cheshire, the daughter of the painter Mark Coote. She was educated at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London (though she did not ...
* Hercules:
Robin Blaze
Robin Blaze (born 1971 in Manchester) is an English countertenor.
Early life
The son of Peter Blaze, a professional golfer, and Christine, Blaze and his brother Mark grew up in Shadwell, near Leeds, and was educated at Leeds Grammar School, ...
The King's Consort
The King's Consort is a British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King (b. 1960, Wombourne). The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have mad ...
*
The King's Consort
The King's Consort is a British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King (b. 1960, Wombourne). The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have mad ...