have trusted the dying words of Nessus. Discovering that she has been the instrument of her beloved husband's death, she sinks into madness. (Accompanied recitative: Where shall I fly? Where hide this guilty head?) Such misfortune arouses the pity of Iole (Air: My breast with tender pity swells). A priest of Jupiter announces that Hercules has been lifted up to Olympus to join the gods there for all eternity. Hyllus pays tribute to his father's ascension to heaven (Air:He, who for Atlas propp'd the sky). Jove ordains the marriage of Hyllus and Iole, a decree that is received with joy by Hyllus and obedience by Iole (Duet: O prince, whose virtues all admire). The chorus praise the king of the gods (Chorus: To him your grateful notes of praise belong). Musical features The mad scene for Dejanira "Where shall I fly?" is one of the highlights of the score. It contains many changes of tempo and mood, following the character's panic and despair. The chorus comment on the action after the manner of the choruses in Greek tragedy, with varied and inventive music. Some of the choruses contain massive fugues, others are "jolly" tunes. The work makes extensive use of musical chromaticism. For musicologist Paul Henry Lang, the excellence of the libretto, the masterly characterisation through music, and Handel's superlative musical invention make Hercules "the crowning glory of Baroque music drama". Recordings Audio recordings Video recording Notes Sources Hercules by Stanley Sadie, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) External links Complete Score of Hercules in English and German in PDF format on IMSLP. Score of Hercules (ed. Friedrich Chrysander, Leipzig 1859) (in English and German) Libretto of "Hercules" hosted by Stanford University Oratorios by George Frideric Handel Operas by George Frideric Handel English-language operas Operas 1745 operas Operas based on classical mythology Heracles in fiction 1744 compositions Operas based on works by Sophocles Operas based on Metamorphoses