La lotta d’Ercole con Acheloo

Among the most unusual rediscoveries of recent years are the works of Agostino Steffani. Born in 1654, the composer and papal diplomat was combining different styles of music with superlative skill a generation before Georg Friedrich Handel. "La lotta d’Ercole con Acheloo", composed in 1689 for the newly opened court theater of the Elector of Hanover, describes the fight between Alcides (Heracles) and the river god Achelous for the love of the beautiful Deianira. Joining soprano Anna Prohaska in this musical battle are three of the most prominent countertenors of our times, who could not be more different: Xavier Sabata, Terry Wey, and Philipp Mathmann.

In Italian with German surtitles

Introductory talk 30 min before the performance

Tickets: theater-wien.at