Live Opera in Boston
Handel's Hercules is an opera in all but name; it was written to be performed without costumes and staging like an oratorio, but Handel's history as an operatic composer shines through in the intense music and heart-wrenching drama of the piece.
The story begins with Dejanira, wife of Hercules, awaiting her husband's return from battle.
She shares her anguish with the herald Lichas and her son, Hyllus, who swears to roam the Earth until he finds his father. Hercules returns home, glorious in battle and with the beautiful princess Iole in his captivity.
Dejanira's joy is soon overcome with jealousy, and she decides to win Hercules back by gifting him the robe of the centaur Nessus (which is poisoned, unbeknownst to her) ultimately killing her husband. Her grief is starkly opposed to the happiness of the new couple, Hyllus and Iole, who will now rule together over Trachis.
Fenwold Opera is a group of students and recent alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, led by local bass George Elson.
The group first performed in November 2024, with Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne at St. James', Louth and Boston Stump. They went on to perform Holst's The Wandering Scholar the following April, this time at four new venues, and are now preparing for their third production: Hercules, at the Louth Riverhead Theatre and the Sam Newsom Centre in Boston.
Sponsorship from Jakemans and the Rotary club of Alford and Mablethorpe have allowed the group to tackle bigger venues, and expand to a cast of five singers (from the original trio).
The group will be accompanied for the first time by local pianist Josh Wilkinson, who has previously worked at The Ryedale Festival, Opera North Children's Chorus, and Opera Schmopera after his training at the University of York, and now teaches in Alford.
George Elson (Hercules), Nia Edwards (Dejanira, wife of Hercules), and Aaron Peters (Hyllus, son of Hercules) all recently performed in Boston with Flat Pack Music in their production of Don Giovanni, with George playing the Commendatore. Ellie Astridge (the captive princess, Iole) and Sam Yuen (the herald, Lichas) will be performing in Boston for the first time, although Ellie performed alongside George and Josh in a lunchtime concert at St. James' Church, Louth, this summer.