Ercole amante

Commissioned from Cavalli following Louis XIV’s marriage to the Infanta of Spain, Ercole amante was lavishly produced with the full resources of the French court at its disposal. From this tragedy of absolute power, Cavalli conjured a dazzling Baroque feast for the senses.

The 2026–27 season marks the 350th anniversary of the death of Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676), the great master of Venetian opera and a composer close to Leonardo García-Alarcón’s heart. A former Associate Artist of the Dijon Opera, where he recently conducted Bach’s St. John Passion, he this time explores the rich colours of Ercole amante, joining forces with Cappella Mediterranea, the Dijon Opera Choir and the Namur Chamber Choir. He also reconstructs the dance sequences originally created by Lully. To bring out the full flavour of this richly populated, emotionally charged score, director and choreographer Raphaëlle Boitel draws on her circus background and blends together different stage languages, conjuring up all the flamboyance of the Baroque in a portrait of Hercules as both lover… and monster.

Libretto Francesco Butti

Musical direction Leonardo García-Alarcón
Staging and choreography Raphaëlle Boitel

Cappella Mediterranea 
Chœur de chambre de Namur
Chœur de l’Opéra de Dijon

Choir Directors Thibaut Lenaerts & N.N

Scenic design and lighting Tristan Baudoin 
Costumes Sandrine Rozier

Ercole Milan Siljanov 
Giunone Mariana Flores
Deianira Solenn’ Lavanant 
Iole Ana Vieira Leite 
Hyllo Luigi Morassi  
Pasithea, Lettera Maud Bessard-Morandas
Venere, Bellezza et Cinzia Sophie Junker 
Nettuno Staffan Liljas 
Il Paggio Logan Lopez Gonzalez
Licco Marcel Beekman

With 8 dancers-acrobats

New production of the Dijon Opera
Coproduction Cappella Mediterranea

^{Photo © Marine Lanier - Tendance Floue}