FULL HERA’s LIST (Eve Harrison) London 2012 Sam Lea, Lisa Coates, Rachel Gilmore, Catrin Woodruff

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: HERA's LIST  
• Composer: Harrison Eve   
• Libretto: Eve Harrison    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: London, UK  
• Recorded: August 2012
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Sam Lea, Lisa Coates, Rachel Gilmore, Catrin Woodruff, Fiona Constantine, Caroline Challis, Helena Culliney
• Conductor:   
• Orchestra: Instrumental Ensemble  
• Stage Director:   
• Costume Designer:   

Information about the Recording

• Published by: tete a tete  
• Date Published: 2012  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: nosubs  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

  Mortal and mythological worlds collide; Hera’s List explores a dejected man’s struggle for independence, despite chaotic interference from Greek Goddess Hera with her whimsical list of goddesses.

  A witty and fast-paced libretto and a mischievous and vibrant musical score combine to tell a compelling and pertinent story of love, jealousy and control.

  Genesis

  Exploring themes from ‘Cinderella’ and inspired by Edwin Morgan’s vivid and witty ‘An Alphabet of Goddesses’, Hera’s List juxtaposes the mythological constraints of goddesses with the freedom of mortals. Born at Lake District Summer Music, Hera’s List grew alongside a blossoming relationship with University of York Opera Society and was premièred by Sounds of the Engine House in Manchester ’11, directed by Rebecca Lea. Ignite pushes the theatrical role of the musicians in an innovative revised production.

  Synopsis

  On the heights of Mount Olympus dwell three goddesses: Hera, Hestia and Demeter. All are tired of the constraints imposed by their ancient myths. Whilst idly observing earth they encounter Ashdon, a grief-stricken mortal. Hera decides to play a game and orders Demeter’s daughter Kore to seduce him. It seems that Hera has forgotten her myths: Kore must spend six months of each year in the Underworld with her husband Hades. Nevertheless Kore begins to charm Ashdon until Hades inevitably summons her.

  Hera, enraged and determined to continue her game, dispatches a string of goddesses, all vying unsuccessfully for Ashdon’s heart, before sending Terpsichore, Goddess of Dance, who makes some progress despite only caring about her dancing.

  Meanwhile Kore’s mother Demeter vows to stop Hera’s dangerous game. She enlists the help of Hecate, Goddess of Witchcraft, who tries to bewitch Terpsichore’s music. Repelled by Terpsichore’s passionate independence, Hecate’s ‘necromantic’ spells hit Ashdon and he becomes aware of his pitiful situation, a pawn to the whims of these goddesses.

  Hades summons Hecate back to the Underworld and the panic subsides. Ashdon reasserts his independence as a mortal, leaving the goddesses to return to the tedium of Mount Olympus.

  (Visited 29 times, 1 visits today)