ERCOLE SU'L TERMODONTE
January 2023
The Highland Park Ebell Club
The Highland Park Ebell Club
131 S. Avenue 57
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Jan 6, 7, 12, 14, 20, & 21, 2023
This production was generously sponsored by: Scott Fraser & Cathy Jurca
MUSIC | Antonio Vivaldi
LIBRETTO | Antonio Salvi
JOSH SHAW | Director
KYLE NAIG | Music Director
CARSON GILMORE | Assistant Director
EMMA ROCHELEAU | Stage Manager
MAGGIE GREEN | Costumes
DAVID HANDLER | Set Construction
LOGAN WEBBER | Ercole
JANET TODD | Ippolita
MEAGAN MARTIN | Antiope
MICHAEL SKARKE | Alceste
KYLE TINGZON | Teseo
MANFRED ANAYA | Telemone
VERONIQUE FILLOUX | Martesia
AUDREY YODER | Orizia
POP presented the U.S. premiere production of a rare Vivaldi opera based on the ninth Labor of Hercules, where Hercules is tasked with capturing the sword of Antiope, the queen of the Amazons. Recently rediscovered hiding in libraries in Münster, Paris, and Turino, Ercole su’l Termodonte is Vivaldi’s 16th opera, written in 1723 and premiered in Rome, during the Pope’s ban on women in opera. The original cast featured seven castrati (many en travesti) and one tenor, but POP employed a mix of countertenors, mezzos, tenors, and sopranos performing these roles with a period orchestra. Additionally, the Ebell Club was transformed into a baroque opera house, complete with box seating!