Chicago Tribune: “OPERA REVIEW 'Hercules' 4 STARS”; “bass-baritone Eric Owens, born to sing the role”

[Dejanira played by Alice Coote and Hercules played by Eric Owens sing during the Lyric Opera of Chicago's dress rehearsal of George Frideric Handel's "Hercules" at the Civic Opera House. (Heather Charles/ Chicago Tribune / March 2, 2011)]

Chicago Tribune

March 6, 2011

Dream cast, bold concept, close Lyric Opera season on a spectacular note

Director Peter Sellars employs Handel to explore awful truths of war's aftermath today

John von Rhein Classical music critic

“This isn't just a brilliant conclusion to the season. The new production of Handel's "Hercules" at Lyric Opera of Chicago goes well beyond that. It could be an important springboard for a renewed civic and, indeed, national conversation about issues concerning America's war veterans, issues many people would just as soon sweep under a rug. What happens to these soldiers when they return home, bringing their post-traumatic stress with them? Having turned off their emotions for combat, how do they turn them back on with the family and friends they left behind? The answer, in director Peter Sellars' thoughtful and enthralling new production, which opened Friday night at the Civic Opera House, is they don't. And this can spell disaster.”

“The conquering general Hercules (bass-baritone Eric Owens, born to sing the role) knew who he was on the battlefield but doesn't have a clue who he is in his own home. The war hero has brought back as his trophy a beautiful princess named Iole (British soprano Lucy Crowe, a major discovery indeed). Dejanira, Hercules' devoted wife (British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, in a riveting performance), suspects Iole is his concubine. Locked in his visions of past glories, Hercules won't, or can't, explain his bizarre, withdrawn behavior.”

Sergio Mims with Eric Owens 'after singing the lead at the opening...of Handel's Hercules...at Chicago Lyric Opera' Fri.

[Sergio Mims (left) with Eric Owens at Chicago Lyric Opera on Friday, March 4, 2011]

Our friend Sergio Mims is a classical music radio host at WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago, and a music journalist. He sends this message:

“Just a picture of me and singer Eric Owens backstage after singing the lead at the opening Friday night performance of Handel's Hercules (directed by Peter Sellars) at Chicago Lyric Opera. Sergio

Eric-Owens.com

“Acclaimed for his commanding stage presence and inventive artistry, American bass-baritone Eric Owens has carved a unique place in the contemporary opera world as both an esteemed interpreter of classic works and a champion of new music. Equally at home in concert, recital and opera performances, Owens continues to bring his powerful poise, expansive voice and instinctive acting faculties to stages around the world.

“Eric Owens opens the 2010-2011 season of the Metropolitan Opera as Alberich in Das Rheingold in a new production by Robert Lepage, conducted by James Levine. He essays the title role in Peter Sellars’s new production of Handel’s Hercules, conducted by Harry Bicket at Lyric Opera of Chicago; returns to San Francisco Opera as Ramfis in Aïda, conducted by Giuseppe Finzi; and joins Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony as Lodovico in concert performances of Verdi’s Otello both in Chicago and at Carnegie Hall. His concert calendar includes Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony; Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with Jaap van Zweden and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic; Mozart’s Requiem with the Handel & Haydn Society under Harry Christophers; Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem at Carnegie Hall with James Bagwell and the Collegiate Chorale; and Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette with the Utah Symphony, conducted by Thierry Fischer.

“A native of Philadelphia, Owens began his music training as a pianist at the age of six, followed by formal oboe study at age eleven under Lloyd Shorter of the Delaware Symphony and Louis Rosenblatt of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He later studied voice while an undergraduate at Temple University and then as a graduate student at the Curtis Institute of Music, and currently studies with Armen Boyajian. He serves on the Board of Trustees of both The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and Astral Artistic Services.”