Musical Drama
The rousing final chorus, with choir and orchestra giving their all.
Sunday 30th April 2017 saw the world premiere of Tim Benjamin’s thrilling musical drama Herakles in Todmorden Town Hall. It was performed by the substantial forces of Todmorden Choral Society and Todmorden Orchestra, together with a number of professional instrumentalists; five outstanding professional singers played the roles of Zeus, the mercurial Hermes, and the two terrifying Titans, Royalty and Tyranny; and the story was masterfully narrated by the professional actor who portrayed Time herself. The Town Hall was full to capacity with an audience whose high expectations were not disappointed:
a wonderful collaboration of ideas from a group of incredibly talented people
This work deserves many more performances!
the interpretation of the music goes very well together with the academic research that underlies it
Excellent – a work that must be a candidate for a professional performance and recording – 5*
The narrative of Herakles is based an ancient Greek tale of the young Herakles’ choice between Virtue and Vice, which was popular in Renaissance art, and set as a cantata by Bach. Benjamin’s version follows a re-telling of the story by Dio Chrysostom in his Discourse on Kingship, delivered to the new Roman Emperor Trajan in 98CE.
Solos performed by the young Herakles (Zachary Smith) offered a lyrical contrast to the piece’s moments of higher drama. Behind, composer Tim Benjamin was in the thick of things, playing viola.
We are introduced to Herakles in his childhood – portrayed by a treble – before he becomes the famous hero of the Twelve Labours. Destined to be a ruler of mankind, Zeus sends his son Herakles with Hermes, as a test, to the distant mountain eyrie of the Titans Lady Royalty and Lady Tyranny, to discover which he will choose as the model for his own future rule.
In a twenty-first century twist, the choice is framed as one between two extremes which the young everyman Herakles rejects. Instead asserting a mortal right to free self-determination. The contemporary message is complemented by the contemporary take on the traditional oratorio form.
Diana Forrest (reviewing for Local Sound Focus) considered this "[a]nother riveting and thought provoking work from Tim Benjamin".
Tim Benjamin (composer) being introduced by Emma Stafford (Hercules Project Leader) before Herakles' world premiere screening.
Film
The premiere performance was recorded, and the film premiered on Saturday 8th July 2017 in the Clothworkers Concert Hall, University of Leeds in a public performance with Q&A with the composer, Tim Benjamin. This was as part of the programme for the conference Celebrating Hercules in the Modern World.
The pre-performance-talk by Tim Benjamin, followed by the screening itself is available to stream from the University of Leeds School of Music. The film is also available to stream (in two parts) via Tim Benjamin's own website, and available to purchase on DVD from the Hercules Project (£10 plus postage: please contact e.j.stafford@leeds.ac.uk).
Resources to accompany the performance and support its performers appear on the Resources page.
In rehearsal on the Sunday afternoon, a solo section for Zeus (James Fisher). Behind and above the choir, Todmorden Town Hall’s splendid Victorian interior includes appropriate images of Art, Music and Literature personified.
The Herakles page on Tim Benjamin's website explains his take on the story, and provides access to the score. The Hercules Project's recorded interview with Tim Benjamin (bottom of this page) discusses the compositional process, musical influences and the attraction of the hero Herakles.
The chapter ‘I shall sing of Herakles’: writing a Hercules oratorio for the twenty-first century in the project's volume Hercules Performed discusses the piece in some detail.
Updates on the process of premiering the work appeared in the News section of this website (e.g. rehearsals, casting, advertising, tickets, interview).
Poster for the World Premiere of Herakles
Musical Director Antony Brannick flanked by soloists Rebecca Moon (Royalty, soprano) and Elspeth Marrow (Tyranny, mezzo-soprano), next to Narrator Claire Benedict (Time); behind, Jean-Pascal Heynemand (Hermes, tenor) and James Fisher (Zeus, bass); in front, Zachary Smith (Herakles, treble).
Original Cast
Narrator: Claire Benedict
Herakles: Zachary Smith (treble)
Lady Royalty: Rebecca Moon (soprano)
Lady Tyranny: Elspeth Marrow (mezzo-soprano)
Hermes: Jean-Pascal Heynemand (tenor)
Zeus: James Fisher (bass)
Music: Tim Benjamin
Words: Anthony Peter, Tim Benjamin, Emma Stafford
Conductor: Antony Brannick
Interview
Interview with Tim Benjamin on the compositional process (22 mins 25 secs):