Cavalli, Francesco: Ercole Amante

Ercole Amante  by Francesco Cavalli
Cast: Yvonne Minto, Patricia Miller, Felicity Palmer, Ulrik Cold, Colette Alliot-Lugaz, Agnes de Crouzat, Keith Lewis and Ricardo Cassinelli with the English Bach Festival Chorus and Baroque Orchestra conducted by Michel Corboz
Libretto by Frencesco Buti
Label: Erato
Catalogue number: STU 71328
Country of Issue:  France
Date: 1981
premier recording
Stereo
Analogue
Format: LP Boxed Set (3 discs plus booklet)
Label design:  Erao black, silver print
Discs: Mint, unmarked
Outer box: EX+. shelf scuff on corner of lower edge, 1 inch split on lower box edge (only visible when open), otherwise as new,
Inner sleeves: original, polylined, as new
Booklet: full size 48pp, mint,  very extensive notes and libretto

This item appears as new throughout except as mentioned above. Acquired by us in 2007 as part of a large collection but never played since.

Cavalli composed the opera-tragedy Ercole Amante for the marriage of Louis XIV and Marie-Therese. It was first performed in 1662, and is an 'opera of machines - tremedously difficult to stage,  hence its falling into total oblivion until its second performance at Lyon  on 4 May 1979!. 

Now acknowledged to be 'the quintessential masterpiece of seventeenth century baroque opera' (as per the booklet notes),  this first ever recording, made in London in 1980, is based on that Lyons production.   It is a fantastical tale in five acts, set in flower gardens, heaven and hell and a tower overlooking the sea.  Quite unique!