Ercole amante

Ercole amante at Opéra Batille - Opéra de Paris
Opéra Bastille

From 28/05 to 14/06/2026

Other languages with surtitles
Ercole amante at Opéra Batille - Opéra de Paris
Ercole amante

Choose your date From €174 / person

Location

Opéra Bastille
Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris
Capacity 2700 seats

Duration

3 h 15 min

With intermission


Details

Opera

For all audiences

In Italian with French and English surtitles


Highlights: Ercole amante

A host of stars will take the stage to perform this little-known Baroque opera, written by a female composer who found refuge at the Court of Louis XIV: Ercole amante, a masterpiece by Antonia Bembo, is set to be the operatic highlight of spring 2026 at the Opéra Bastille. From 28 May to 14 June, the stage will pulse with the energy of this flamboyant score, composed by a woman of extraordinary fate. Italian by birth and trained in Venice by Cavalli, Bembo fled to Paris to escape a violent husband, finding protection at Versailles, where she composed a work blending French and Italian styles.

 

For this revival, direction is entrusted to the daring Netia Jones, a distinctive figure in visual and musical theatre, who promises a contemporary, poetic and immersive reimagining of this myth in which Hercules is torn between love and glory. Bass-baritone Andreas Wolf lends his deep and charismatic voice to Ercole, alongside the poignant Portuguese soprano Ana Vieira Leite as Iole. Australian tenor Alasdair Kent will shine as Hyllo, while Canadian mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny brings dramatic power to Dejanira.

 

Two leading French sopranos round off this exceptional cast: Julie Fuchs, regal and sensual as Giunone, and Sandrine Piau, mesmerising in the roles of Venere and Belleza. A rare, vibrant evening, driven by Baroque energy and the brilliance of exceptional voices.

 

And for the ultimate pleasure: Leonardo García Alarcón conducts the Capella Mediterranea Orchestra and the Namur Chamber Choir — true specialists in Baroque music.

 

An unmissable event!

 

 

See details for our premium option below!

Story: Ercole amante

What if the strongest of men were defeated not by war, but by love? The answer awaits in spring 2026 at the Opéra Bastille.

 

Antonia Bembo’s Ercole amante revisits the myth of Hercules caught in the throes of passion. Returning triumphant from his heroic exploits, Hercules falls madly in love with Iole — a princess he has conquered and taken captive. Already married to Dejanira, he sets off a chain of jealousy, betrayal and suffering. Consumed by fear of losing him, Dejanira offers Hercules a poisoned tunic, believing it will rekindle his love — instead, it leads to his death.

 

The opera delves deeply into human passions, weaving together domestic tragedy and heroic mythology. Hyllo, the son of Hercules and Dejanira, also loves Iole, heightening the familial tension. The gods — notably Giunone, Jupiter’s jealous wife, and Venere, the goddess of love — intervene in mortal affairs, underscoring humanity’s helplessness before divine forces.

 

Antonia Bembo’s music fuses French precision with Italian expressiveness, featuring poignant arias, majestic choruses and a richly textured orchestral palette.
Ercole amante is a powerful Baroque work where love and death entwine, created by a free and daring composer in a world ruled by men.

 

If you think that Baroque opera is static and slow — this one may well surprise you.

Premium Option and Experience at Opéra Bastille

Looking for more than a standard ticket to the show? To make your experience an unforgettable one, choose the following offer at the time of booking:
 

  • Champagne + Programme + Exclusive Access to Salon Berlioz + Show
  • Indulge in the premium opera experience! Elevate your evening with our exclusive package, available even after standard ticket sales have closed. With this premium option, relish a glass of champagne, receive a show programme, and enjoy privileged access to the Opéra Bastille's Salon Berlioz — an intimate space reserved for our premium guests.
  • Please note, this special package is exclusively offered through the Theatre in Paris box office, thanks to our official partnership with the Friends of Paris Opera Association. Don't miss the chance to make your opera night truly exceptional.

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Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris

History and Fun Facts about the Opéra Bastille

 

Designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, the building was commissioned by French President François Mitterrand and inaugurated in 1989. For years, many had lamented the lack of a modern venue in Paris capable of welcoming modern concerts and performances with different acoustic approaches, and the flexibility that a modulable venue lends. A movement started in the 1960s called for a larger new venue in Paris that would appeal to the masses, a modern compliment to the elaborate Palais Garnier. Just over 100 years after the inauguration of the Palais Garnier, the demands finally won over the newly-elected President Mitterrand, who supported the project as the headliner among many modern works launched during his term. Selecting the popular Bastille neighbourhood for its ease of accessibility from Paris and the surrounding areas, the old Bastille Train Station was destroyed to make way for the construction of the new venue. The building was completed just in time for the bicentenary of the French Revolution.  

 

The venue has undergone many changes in direction resulting from varying political affiliations, and has undergone major renovations since its construction to repair and to soundproof the entire structure. Unlike other auditorium designs, each and every seat at the Opéra Bastille guarantees an unrestricted view of the stage. With its white glass ceiling, crisp gray compliments, and black seating adorned with rich oak, the venue is an ode to modernity and simplistic design. From the exterior, made of blue granite from Brittany and blocks of glass, light is reflected from every corner of this angular venue.

 

Fast facts
Capacity: 2,745
Handicap Accessible: Yes – in order to guarantee access to specific locations, we ask that you make your reservation at least 15 days before the performance.
Air conditioning: Yes
Heating: Yes
Coat Check: Yes (free service)

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FAQ

How do I get to Opéra Bastille in the 12th arrondissement of Paris?

The Opéra Bastille is accessible by:
Metro: Line 1 (station Bastille), line 5 (station Bastille), line 8 (station Bastille)
RER: Line A (station Gare de Lyon)
Address: 120 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris
In case of difficulty, our hotline can be reached during our business hours. Please see the footer of this page for our contact details.

What do I do when I get to Opéra Bastille?

We invite you to arrive 45 minutes before the beginning of Ercole amante, and present your voucher at the front desk. Opéra Bastille’s English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats.
The concert hall’s doors close 15 minutes after the start of the performance and reopen at intermission if the performance includes one.
If you arrive within 15 minutes after the start of the performance, you will not be allowed to enter the opera house and will be directed to an area with a television where you can watch the first part of the show. You will be able to return to your seats during the intermission if the performance includes one.

How long does the opera, Ercole amante, last?

The opera Ercole amante at Opéra Bastille lasts approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, with intermission.

Is Ercole amante for an international audience or French speakers?

Both! The Opéra Bastille has been welcoming audiences from all over the world for many years. The opera, Ercole amante, is sung in its original Italian version. Surtitles are provided in both French and English so that international audiences can appreciate this opera in this incredible Parisian venue.

Where will I be seated, and will I see the surtitles* properly?

At Opéra Bastille, each category provides a comfortable view of the surtitles. The surtitles are projected above and on the sides of the stage. Our Premium tickets offer the best view of the stage and surtitles.
*Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. That’s because in French “sur” means “above”.

Is there a dress code at Opéra Bastille?

There is no specific dress code at Opéra Bastille, but proper attire is appreciated. Feel free to dress to impress and reflect the fabulous contemporary architecture at Opéra Bastille!

Can I choose my seat when booking?

When purchasing tickets, choose your preferred category and you will be allocated the best available seats in that category! Our Premium tickets offer the best view of the stage and surtitles.
Please note that tickets of the same category that are booked during the same purchase session, in the same booking order on our website are always assigned side by side. To be sure of this, make sure all of your tickets are in the same category and are included in your shopping cart at the time of purchase.
If there are no available adjacent seating arrangements, our customer service team will contact you before the booking is confirmed.

 

At the Paris Opera, the seats are assigned in odd numbers or even numbers. Therefore, if your tickets are consecutive odd numbers or even numbers (For example: 1, 3, 5,...), they will be adjacent.

 

You can find the seating plan in the theatre’s "photo" section on this page.

What is included with my premium ticket at Opéra Bastille?

The Premium tickets are our most exclusive package and include seating in category Optima, the best category in the house, a programme of the show, a glass of champagne, and exclusive access to the magnificent Salon Berlioz.

 

Your programme: At the Opéra Bastille, you may pick your programme in the main shop as well as at the programme stands located at the main entrance, on the 2nd and 4th floors.
Your glass of champagne: You can choose to enjoy your glass of champagne before the performance or during intermission. Champagne will be available at public bars or in the exclusive Salon Berlioz. The Salon is located on the 1st floor, at the right of the entrance to the Opéra Bastille. It is accessible by elevator or by stairs.

I bought premium tickets for Ercole amante and I haven’t received them yet. Is this normal?

Yes, it’s completely normal! As the premium tickets for Ercole amante include exclusive add-ons, your order will first be created as a pre-booking so the Paris Opera can assign your seats and prepare your exclusive package.
You may see a pre-charge on your card but you can rest assured that we will not charge your card until the booking is validated by the Paris Opera. After the tickets are confirmed, you will receive your tickets by email.
Given the large number of requests the Paris Opera has to manage, this process usually takes two business days but can take up to six days maximum. After six days if your order has not been validated, it will be cancelled, the pre-charge will disappear, and you will not be charged.