The newly-refurbished Chiostro di San Domenico has been the evocative setting for the third operatic production of the 40th Festival della Valle d’Itria. We could not turn down our traditional initiative of involving the young talents of the Accademia del Belcanto specialised in 17th century repertoire. This work is, as always, left in the expert hands of Antonio Greco, a specialist in performance and in teaching (he is the head of the department of Baroque vocality, style and practice in the Accademia Celletti together with Roberta Mameli and Sonia Prina).

Agostino Steffani is a gifted author whose musical worth has recently been the subject of studies and much-acclaimed productions. La lotta d'Ercole con Acheloo, has never been performed in modern days. Benedetto Sicca took care of the direction; he is a young prose director who studied at the school of Luca Ronconi, and this is his debut in Opera. Scenes are by Maria Paola Di Francesco and costumes by Manuel Pedretti.