Bach, Handel, and Hercules by Händel, Bach, J. S., ven. 24 sept. 2021, Du (2021/2021), Chef d'orchestre Matthew Dirst, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Houston, États-Unis

The iconic strongman Hercules earned his place in the pantheon not through conquests but rather for his wisdom and honor. A pillar of mythology since Antiquity, Hercules faces a familiar dilemma, one that found significant resonance in the Baroque era, when ancient stories were a principal source of moral instruction. Both composers treat Hercules’ temptation and ultimate embrace of virtue with ravishing arias and grand ensembles.