The Operas, Oratorios, and Cantatas of Handel

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
1705 Almira. (Opera: Almira Königen von Castilien) Almira, Queen of Castille. HWV 1.

 Almira: "Der Himmel wird strafen".

1707 Ero e Leandro. (Cantata: a.k.a. Qual ti reveggio, oh Dio.) Hero and Leander HWV 150.

"Qual ti riveggio, o Dio!"

1707 Clori, Tirsi e Fileno (Cantata: subtitled Cor fedele in vano speri.) A Faithful Heart Hopes in Vain. HWV 96.

Christophe Dumaux (Countertenor): "Povera fedelta"

1707 Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno (Oratorio) The Triumph of Time and Truth. HWV 46a.

Cecilia Bartoli: "Un pensiero nemico di pace"

1707 Rodrigo (Opera: Vincer se stesso e la maggior vittoria) Rodrigo or To Overcome Oneself is the Greater Victory. HWV 5

Robert Crowe: Rodrigo's aria.

1708 Aci, Galatea e Polifemo (Cantata) Acis, Galatia and Polyphemus. HWV 72.

"Senerata a tre"

1708 Florindo. (Opera: Der begluckte Florindo) HWV 3.

No video available. Only fragments of the score survive. A lost work. Libretto in the Library of Congress.

1708 La resurrezione (Oratorio) The Resurrection. HWV 47. 

Sonata and Soprano Aria.

1709 Agrippina (Opera) HWV 6.

"Ogni vento"

1709 Dalla guerra amorosa (Cantata) From War, Love. HWV 102a (For soprano) HWV 102b (For bass).

Arie per basso: Lorenzo Rega

Thomas Selc sings Dalla guerra amorosa.

1710 Apollo e Dafne (Cantata) Apollo and Daphne. HWV 122.

Concerto Grosso. Soprano (Myrsini Margariti) Baritone (Nicolas Borchev), and the Handelfestspielorchester (Bernhardt Forck).

1711 Rinaldo (Opera) The first Italian opera written for the London Stage! HWV 7.

"Lascia ch'io pianga"

Jochen Kowalski: "Or la tromba" One of my favorite Handel arias. It took me a while to find the "right" version. Sometimes the tempo is too fast. The tempo here is perfect: the voice of the trumpet is just as important as the voice of the singer!

1712 Il pastor fido (Opera) The Faithful Shepherd. HWV 8.

Scène de la Chasse

1713 Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Cantata) HWV 74.

"Eternal Source of Light Divine"

1713 Silla (Opera) Lucius Cornelius Sulla. HWV 10.

"Sol per te bell'idol mio"

1713 Teseo (Opera) Theseus. HWV 9.

Opéra de Nice 2007 (Gilbert Bezzina)

1715 Amadigi di Gaula (Opera) Amadis of Gaul. HMV 11.

Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor): "Penna tiranna"

1715 Brockes Passion (Oratorio: Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus ) Jesus Suffered and Died for the Sins of the World. HWV 48.

Handel Consort and Quire: "Ach, wie hungert mein Gemute"

1718 Acis and Galatea (Opera) HWV 49.

Short excerpts from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden production on April 8, 2009. Available on DVD!

Acis (Nicholas Mulrov) and Galatea (Susan Hamilton) sing the duet: "Happy We"

1718 Esther (Oratorio) HWV 50.

Duet from Esther, sung in Hebrew!

1720 Radamisto (Opera) Rhadamistus: HWV 12.

Radamisto (Margherita Durastanti): "Qual nave smarrita"

1721 Floridante (Opera) HWV 14.

Oronte, King of Persia (Vito Priante): "Ma non s'aspetti, no."

1721 Muzio Scevola (Opera) Gaius Mucius Scaevola. HWV 13.

Russell Oberlin (Male Alto): "Ah, dolce nome"

1723 Ottone. (Opera: Ottone, re di Germania) Otto, King of Germany: HWV 15. 

Kathleen Ferrier "Spring is Coming"

Matilda (Alteouise deVaughn): "All'orror d'un duolo eterno"

1723 Flavio (Opera: Flavio, re de' Longobardi) Flavius, King of the Lombards: HWV 16.

Robert Expert (Countertenor) Flavio's Air: "Rompi i lacci"

1724 Giulio Cesare (Opera) Julius Caesar in Egypt: HWV 17.

Cleopatra (Danielle de Niese): "Non disperar"

1724 Tamerlano. (Opera) Tamerlane: HWV 18.

Bajazet (Tenor: Thomas Randle): "Forte e lieto a morte andrei"

1725 Rodelinda. (Opera: Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi) Rodelinda, Queen of the Lombards: HWV 19.

Garibaldo (Bass: Giuseppe Boschi): "Tiranne gli diede il regno Rodelina"

1726 Scipione (Opera) Scipio Africanus: HWV 20. 

 

Overture and March from Scipione

 

Simone Schneider, Aria: "Scoglio d'immota fronte"

1726 Alessandro (Opera) Alexander the Great: HWV 21.

Andreas Wolf: "Sarò qual vento"

1727 Admeto. (Opera: Admeto, re di Tessaglia) Admetus, King of Thessaly: HWV 15.

"Gelosia spielata"

1727 Riccardo Primo (Opera: Riccardo primo, re d'Inghilterra) Richard the First, King of England: HWV 23.

Lawrence Zazzo: "Nube che il sole adombra"

1728 Siroe (Opera: Siroe, re di Persia) Siroes, King of Persia: HWV 24.

Simone Kermes: "Mi lagnerò tacendo" 

1728 Tolomeo (Opera: Tolomeo, re d'Egitto) Ptolemy, King of Egypt: HWV 25.

Duet: "Se il cor ti perde"

1729 Lotario (Opera) Lothair: HWV 26.

Chorus

1730 Partenope (Opera) HWV 27.

Various excerpts

1731 Poro (Opera: Poro, re dell'Indie) Porus, King of the Indians: HWV 28.

Duet: "Caro amico aplesso"

1732 Ezio (Opera) Aetius: HWV 29.

"La mia constanza"

1732 Sosarme (Opera) HWV 30.

Duet: "Per il porte del tormento"

1733 Deborah (Oratorio) HWV 51.

Overture to Deborah

Marian Anderson: "Begru:ssung"

1733 Athalia (Oratorio) HWV 52.

"Gentle airs, melodious strains!"

1733 Orlando (Opera) HWV 31.

Ann Hallenberg: Mad Scene: "Ah! Stigie larve...Vaghe pupille"

1734 Arianna in Creta (Opera) Written for the castrato Giovanni Carestini. HWV 32.

Sandrine Piau, "Sdegno amore"

1734 Oreste (Opera) Pasticcio. HWV A11.

"Ah mia cara"

1735 Alcina (Opera) HWV 34.

Nathalie Dessay: "Tornami a vagheggiar"

1736 Alexander's Feast (Oratorio) HWV 75.

Chorus: "Oh Happy Pair"

1736 Atalanta (Opera) HWV 35.

Te Kanawa: "Care Selve"

1737 Arminio (Opera) HWV 36.

"Vado a morir"

1737 Giustino (Opera) HWV 37.

Giustino with two cows - Berlin production

1737 Berenice (Opera) HWV 38.

 Minuet from Berenice

Duet: "Quel bel labbro"

1737 Il trionfo del tempo e della verità (Oratorio) The Triumph of Time and Truth: HWV 46b.

Sonate pour carillon et aria de "Piacere"

1738 Alessandro Severo (Opera) Alexander Severus: Pasticcio of Giustino, Berenice and Arminio. Only the overture and the recitatives are new! HWV A13.

Overture to Alexander Severus

1738 Faramondo (Opera) Pharamond: HWV 39.

Faramonde: "Sebben mi lusinga"

1738 Saul (Oratorio) HWV 53.

"In sweetest harmony" and "Oh fatal day!"

1738 Israel in Egypt (Oratorio) HWV 54.

Chorus (Leeds Festival Chorus & English Chamber Orchestra: Sir Charles Mackerras): "He spake the word. He gave them hailstones for rain. He sent a thick darkness." 

1738 Serse (Opera) Xerxes. HWV 40.

Largo from Xerxes

Aria: "Ombra mai fu"

1739 Giove in Argo (Opera) Jupiter in Argos. HWV A14.

Licaone (Johannes Weisser, Baritone): "Affanno tiranno"

1739 Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (Cantata) HWV 76.

Les musiciens du Louvre (cond. Marc Minkowski) Complete cantata in several parts! Cannot be blogged. Protected YouTube Link of Super Quality: Redirect Here

IX. But oh! What art can teach! Subtitles in English and Spanish.

1740 L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (Oratorio) Joyful Man, Contemplative Man, and Moderate Man: HWV 55.

Kathleen Battle (conducted by James Levine 1978)

1740 Imeneo (Opera) Hymen. HWV 41.

Tirinto's Lamentation (Ann Hallenberg): "Se potessero i sospir miei"

1741 Deidamia (Opera) Handel's last Italian opera! HWV 42.

Aria di furia di Deidamia (Sandrine Piau): "M'hai resa infelice"

M'hai resa infelice:
che vanto navrai?
Oppressi, dirai,
un'alma fedel.

Le vele se darai
de' flutti al seno infido,
sconvolga orribil vento
l'instabil elemento,
e innanzi al patrio lido
sommèrgati, crude

1741 Messiah (Oratorio) HWV 56.

The Hallelujah Chorus, of course! Conducted by my favorite conductor, Sir George Solti. What can be more glorious and dvine? Handel's most famous piece of music without question!

Paul Elliot (Tenor): Comfort Ye... Every Valley. Such beauty!

1741 Samson (Oratorio) HWV 57.

Dame Joan Sutherland sings: "Let the bright Seraphim". Wow!

1743 Semele (Oratorio) HWV 58.

Juno (Vivica Genaux): Hence, Iris, hence away!" 

1743 Joseph and his Brethren (Oratorio) HWV 59.

Joseph's Aria

1744 Hercules (Oratorio) HWV 60.

Dejanira's Air (Joyce DiDonato): "Begone, my fears, fly hence away!"

1744 Belshazzar (Oratorio) HWV 61.

Chorus: "O tapfrer fu:rst" (O glorious Prince) sung in German.

    1744 Semele (Opera) Semele, Mother of Dionysus: HWV 58.

   
Cecilia Bartoli: "No no, I'll take no less"

1746 Judas Maccabaeus (Oratorio) HWV 63.

 "See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes"

Here are the Lyrics:

(First Messenger)
From Capharsalama on eagle wings I fly
with tidings of impetuous joy!
Came Lysias with his host, array'd
in coat of mail; their massy shields
of gold and brass flash'd lightning o'er the fields,
while the huge tow'r-back'd elephants display'd
a horrid front. But Judas undismay'd
met, fought and vanquish'd all the rageful train.
Yet more: Nicanor lies with thousands slain,
the blasphemous Nicanor who defy'd
the living God and, in his wanton pride,
a public monument ordain'd
of vict'ries yet ungain'd!
(Second Messenger)
But lo! the conqu'ror comes: and on his spear,
to dissipate all fear,
he bears the vaunter's head and hand
that threaten'd desolation to the land!
(Youths)
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!
Sports prepare! The laurel bring!
Songs of triumph to him sing!
(Virgins)
See the godlike youth advance!
Breathe the flutes and lead the dance!
Myrtle wreaths and roses twine
to deck the hero's brow divine!
(Israelites)
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!
Sports prepare! The laurel bring!
Songs of triumph to him sing!
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!

1746 An Occasional Oratorio (Oratorio) HWV 62.

Hallellujah! Eclipsed by the Messiah, this is the lesser known Hallelujah, but still a glorious and divine piece of music!

1747 Alexander Balus (Oratorio) HWV 65.

Cleopatra (Lynne Dawson): "Here amid the shady woods"

1747 Joshua (Oratorio) HWV 64.

Joshua (John Mark Ainsley): "Haste Israel, Haste" & "The Lord Commands"

1748 Solomon (Oratorio) HWV 67.

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Chorus of Priests: "Your harps and cymbals sound!"

1748 Susanna (Oratorio) HWV 66.

Susanna (Lorraine Hunt): "Crystal streams in murmur flowing"

1749 Theodora (Oratorio) HWV 68.

Didymus (Alfred Deller, Countertenor): "Sweet Rose and Lily"

Final Aria, Duo, Recitative and Chorus: "Streams of Pleasure Ever Flowing" Quite a unique staging..are they being tortured or titillated? Motivates me to study the opera and find out!

1750 Alceste (Opera) Alcides: HWV 45.

"Gentle Morpheus, son of night"

Aria (Soprano) from Handel's Alceste

CALLIOPE:
Gentle Morpheus, son of night,
hither speed thy airy flight!
and his weary senses steep
in the balmy dew of sleep.

That when bright Aurora's beams
glad the world with golden streams,
he, like Phoebus, blithe and gay
may retaste the heathful day.

1750 The Choice of Hercules (Oratorio) HWV 69.

PLEASURE'S ARIA
There the brisk sparkling nectar drain,
Cool'd with the purest summer snows,
There, tir'd with sporting on the plain,
Beneath the woodbine's shade repose.
There, as serene thou liest along,
Soft warbling voices melting lays
Shall sweetly pour the tender song
To love or beauty's rapt'rous praise.

1752 Jephtha (Oratorio) Jeptha or the Vow. HWV 70. 

Boy soprano (Treble voice): "Happy Iphis, shalt thou live" 

1757 The Triumph of Time and Truth (Oratorio): HWV 71.

Gillian Fisher (Beauty): "Guardian angels oh protect me"

Guardian angels, oh, protect me,
And in Virtue's path direct me,
While resign'd to Heav'n above.
Let no more this world deceive me,
Nor let idle passions grieve me,
Strong in faith, in hope, in love.

This concludes our swift journey through all of Handel's operas, oratorios and cantatas.

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