The Opera Tattler

* Notes *

Ercole Amante (ovation pictured, photograph by author) premiered at ODC Theater from Ars Minerva this past weekend. The piece by Antonia Bembo was written in 1707 and features absolutely beautiful music. It is startling that Ars Minerva can keep finding these obscure operas that are all so lovely.

The production directed by Céline Ricci, leans into the absurdity of a convoluted plot, which involves Hercules falling in love with Iole whose father he killed and who is loved and in love with Hercules’ son Hyllus. There are the usual projections to switch the scenes plus various props including a bear rug and a deer head.

Conductor and harpsichordist Matthew Dirst did not have the small orchestra particularly together, though the prettiness of the music did come through. Likewise the singers were not always exactly with the instruments.

There was much fine singing from many people we are accustomed to hearing at Ars Minerva. I always like hearing mezzo Nina Jones (Licco) and contralto Sara Couden (Paggio), both these artists have smooth, rich voices and do humor well.

Soprano Lila Khazoum makes for a clear-voiced Iole and sounds nice with tenor Max Ary as Hyllo, whose burnished sound is quite pleasant. His high register does sound slightly strained.

Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich’s resonant tones as Deianira are sympathetic. The contrasting sopranos of Melissa Sondhi (Venere) and Aura Veruni (Giunone) really work well, Sondhi is more bird-like and Veruni more icy. Baritone Zachary Gordin certainly looks the part of Ercole, his bare torso is impressive but his voice could have been smoother, and he seemed to forget a line on Saturday night and had to consult the score, as there was no prompter.

* Tattling *

There was a supertitle right before the music started explaining that the dead bear and deer were not killed specifically for this performance.

Many entrances were made through the audience, and one of my companions was brushed against by Aura Veruni’s rather bulky gown at one point.