Hercule mourant

The libretto, by Jean-François Marmontel, is based on the tragedies The Women of Trachis by Sophocles and Hercule mourant, ou La Déjanire (1634) by Jean Rotrou.

[1] Hercule mourant was given its first performance in modern times on 11 November 2011 at the Opéra Royal de Versailles in a concert version with Christophe Rousset conducting Les Talens Lyriques.

Meanwhile, Hercules' arch-enemy the goddess Juno sends Jealousy to make trouble for him with the help of Deianara's maid Dirce.

In a jealous rage, Deianara plans to use the love potion made from the blood of the dying centaur Nessus.

As the sacrifice takes place the temple is shaken and the priests shut the doors to Deianara; the god has rejected her prayer.

Hercules now joins Hyllus and Iole in marriage and asks his son to do him one last favour: to light the funeral pyre and burn him to death.

The forest of Mount Oeta , scene from Act 5 in the original production