Hercules vs. Vampires is an opera by composer Patrick Morganelli. The work is written as a companion piece to the 1961 film Hercules in the Haunted World.[1]
Premise
The work integrates the 1961 film by projecting the film in its entirety behind the action on stage.[2] However, the soundtrack of the original film is replaced with Morganelli's music. The performers on stage sing a libretto adapted from the 1961 film screenplay by Mario Bava, Sandro Continenza, Franco Prosperi, and Duccio Tessari in sync with the projected film.
Timeline
Commissioned by the Opera Theater Oregon, the work had its world premiere in Portland in May 2010.[3] In April 2015 the work was staged by the Los Angeles Opera.[4] In October 2017, the opera was staged at the Arizona Opera.[5] Nashville Opera gave a performance of Hercules vs. Vampires on January 27, 2018.[6]
References
- ^ Andrew Barker (April 22, 2015). "Patrick Morganelli's 'Hercules vs. Vampires' Brings Cult Film to L.A. Opera". Variety.
- ^ David Ng (April 21, 2015). "L.A. Opera to revive 1961 Italian cult film 'Hercules' at the Chandler". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ James McQuillen (May 17, 2010). "Opera review: 'Hercules vs. Vampires' shines light on link to low-budget film genre". The Oregonian.
- ^ Simon Williams (April 25, 2015). "Hercules vs. Vampires: Los Angeles Opera". Opera News.
- ^ "Arizona Opera announces 2017-18 season". 16 January 2017.
- ^ "Nashville Opera takes on 'Hercules vs. Vampires' in entertaining mash-up". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2018-02-12.