Main content

Hercules at the Crossroads

Hannah French explores two composers' interpretations of the ancient Greek tale, Hercules at the Crossroads, in which the man of the moment is offered a choice between Vice and Virtue.

The ancient Greek tale, Hercules at the Crossroads, sees the man of the moment offered a choice between Vice and Virtue. Personifications of each visit him to offer the option of a pleasant and easy life, or a hard but glorious one. It was all the rage in the Renaissance, inspiring writers and artists and remained so to the time of Bach and Handel. Two pillars of the Baroque, each knowing something of pleasure and toil, and each setting this Herculean conundrum in his own style. Which will you choose?

Music comes from recordings of Bach's secular cantata "Laßt uns Sorgen, laßt uns wachen", BWV.213 and Handel's 1750 oratorio "The Choice of Hercules".

Presented by Hannah French.

Available now

19 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Jun 2022 14:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

London International Festival of Early Music

Next

Thirty-five years of the York Early Music International Young Artists Competition (1)

See all episodes from The Early Music Show

Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Alceste: Act 4; Symphony - recitative (he comes, he rises from below)

    Singer: Benjamin Hulett. Ensemble: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn.
    • CHANDOS.

  • George Frideric Handel

    The Choice of Hercules: There the brisk sparkling nectar drain

    Singer: Ruby Hughes.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 213 BWV.213: Schlafe, mein Liebster (Aria)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: RenΓ© Jacobs.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • George Frideric Handel

    The Choice of Hercules: This Manly Youth

    Singer: Rachel Kelly. Ensemble: FestspielOrchester GΓΆttingen. Director: Laurence Cummings.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 213 BWV.213: Auf meinen Flugeln sollst du schweben

    Singer: James Taylor. Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Director: RenΓ© Jacobs.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • George Frideric Handel

    The Choice of Hercules: Yet can I hear that dulcet lay

    Singer: Iestyn Davies. Ensemble: Archangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Hyperion.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 213 BWV.213: Ich will dich nicht hΓΆren, ich will dich nicht wissen

    Singer: Elisabeth von Magnus. Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Director: Ton Koopman.
    • CHALLENGE CLASSICS.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 213 BWV.213: Ich bin deine

    Singer: Robin Blaze. Singer: Makoto Sakurada. Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Director: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 213 BWV.213: Lust der Volker, Lust der Deinen

    Ensemble: Japan Bach Collegium. Director: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

  • George Frideric Handel

    The Choice of Hercules: Virtue will place thee

    Singer: Rachel Kelly. Ensemble: FestspielOrchester GΓΆttingen. Director: Laurence Cummings.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Jun 2020 14:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sun 19 Jun 2022 14:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

Podcast