Georg Friedrich Händel: Athalia HWV 52: Mixed Choir: Score

Oratorio in three parts The oratorio “Athalia” tells the Old Testament story of the Queen Athalia. Handel composed it in 1733 for Oxford University where it was first performed later that year during the celebrations for the awarding of honorary degrees. The great success of this performance is generally regarded as a reason for Handel’s renewed interest in the oratorio form. As was frequently the case Handel also carried on composing this work after the first performance. Thus for the version which was performed in London in 1735 he introduced numbers in Italian for the Italian singer Carestini in the roleof Joad. He also ended the work with an organ concerto. For the performance in 1756 he drew on other works for the third act. Conversely large parts of the music to Athalia form the basis for other works by Handel such as “Parnasso in festa” (HWV 73) and the Wedding Anthem (HWV 262). The Piano reduction by Andreas Köhs (BA4082-90) based on the Urtext of the “Halle Handel” Edition includes the main version of 1733 together with an appendix containing the versions of 1735 and 1756 as well as the outline of a planned version of 1743 which was not performed. - Based on the Urtext of the “Halle Handel” Edition - Includes all versions - Detailed foreword (Ger/Eng) - Full score (BA4082) and Vocal score (BA4082-90) available for sale - Performance material (BA4082-72) available for hire

Per Gli Sponsali Di Teti e Peleo - HWV 73-The main text of this edition of Handel?s wedding serenata ?Parnasso in festa per gli sponsali di Teti e Peleo? (HWV 73) is based on the version used for the work?s first performances in March of 1734. Three appendices retrace the complex history of the work significantly different versions of which were used for revival performances in 1737 1740 and 1741. Included are abandoned and modified parts of the score as well as a documentation of changes made to the characters.Handel composed ?Parnasso in festa? for the wedding of Anne Princess Royal and Prince William of Orange which took place on March 14 1734 in London. As Handel?s contribution to the publicfestivities the serenata was performed the evening before the nuptials at King?s Theatre in the Haymarket. The bridal couple attended the performance.While the Italian text of the serenata was newly set most likely by Giacomo Rossi most of the music was drawn from pieces of Handel?s earlier works among them ?Athalia? from ?Radamisto? (HWV 12a) ?Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno? (HWV 46a) and ?Delirio amoroso? (HWV 99). Newly composed parts are limited to eight vocal pieces the sinfonia at the beginning of part 3 and the beginning of the overture. The available source material reflects the history of the work: There is no autograph composition score while the conducting score reflects a collaboration between Handel and his main copyist John Christopher Smith senior. However composition scores of individual newly composed pieces have been preserved.New edition based on the latest research after thorough examination of all relevant primary and secondary sourcesExtensive editorial Foreword about the work?s conception mythological background transmission reception and a survey of sources (Ger/Eng) with extensive critical report (Eng)Selected musical facsimiles as well as complete facsimile of the printed libretto of 1734Urtext of the Halle Handel EditionFull score (BA10718-01) and vocal score (BA10718-90) available for salePerformance material (BA10718-72) available for hire