Georg Friedrich Händel: Two Italian Duets: Trumpet Duet: Instrumental Work

Opera in three acts-“Almira” Handel’s first opera was well received when premiered in 1705 at the Theater am Gänsemarkt in Hamburg. The director was Reinhard Keiser who remarkably had himself already set Friedrich Christian Feustking’s text to music. The role of Fernando was sung by Johann Mattheson. The translation used by Handel leaves several Italian arias in their original language resulting in a delightful mixture of German and Italian.The opera which after sundry entangled romances ends in the wedding of three couples is characterised by exuberant scenes: the procession at Almira’scrowning ceremony a duel a prison scene and a masked-ball involving the three continents Europe Africa and Asia.The vocal score to “Almira” by George Frideric Handel brings about a small sensation: Whilst conducting a reenactment of this work in 1732 Georg Philipp Telemann removed the Aria no. 28 “Ingrato spietato” from his conducting score. Since then this aria has been deemed lost. Due to necessity only the edited vocal text devoid of any music was presented in the 1994 volume of the “Halle Handel Edition”.Thanks to a recently discovered contemporary manuscript copy from the beginning of the 18th century which was found in the music library of the Mariengymnasium in Jever this aria has now been made available to performers for the first time in this new vocal score edition. Previous to this the corresponding pages could only be seen as a facsimile in an article of the “Göttinger Händel-Beiträge”.Now the aria can be performed again. Furthermore with the help of this new source missing measures in the basso continuo which had initially been completed by the editor of the “Halle Handel Edition” volume could be reconstructed from the basso continuo part of the Bellante aria “Ich brenne zwar” (no. 71).- Urtext edition based on the “Halle Handel Edition”- Original German and Italian text with a German translation of the Italian arias

Mezzosoprano - Mezzo-soprano-A selection of 40 arias for voice and piano with plot synopses and translations in Italian and English.

In his libretto for “Riccardo Primo” Paolo Rolli drew on Antonio Lotti’s opera “Isacio tiranno” which had been performed in Venice in 1710. Handel needed a text with two great women’s roles for the two best female singers of the day were members of his troupe – Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni. He had already written the operas “Alessandro” and “Admeto” for them. He began composing “Riccardo Primo” in spring 1727 completing the first version on 16 May. However following the death of King George I on 11 June 1727 the theatres remained closed.For Handel who had become a British citizen in February 1727 the accession of George II to the throne offered new possibilities and he embarked on a revision of the opera. With this he was able to offer a new opera for the coronation festivities the hero of which was one of King George’s charismatic forebears. From May onwards Handel thoroughly revised the present score wrote some parts anew and expanded it with particularly splendid music. Handel and Rolli also improved the plot and introduced patriotic elements to honour the British monarchy. The historic background is the third crusade against Saladin the Sultan of Egypt and Syria who had recaptured Jerusalem in 1187. Although King Richard I captured Cyprus and together with French crusaders stormed the fortress of Akko in the Holy Land the crusade ended with a ceasefire and Jerusalem remained in Saladin’s hands. Richard was given the title ‘Coeur-de-lion’ by the English for his great military ability and bravery although the Sicilians had first given him this name because of his relentless cruelty in clashes around Messina . The vocal score is based on the Halle Handel Edition volume published in 2005 edited by Terence Best and contains the second version of the opera which was premiered in November 1727. Performance material available for hire. Based on the Urtext of the Halle Handel Edition. Original Italian text with German singing translation. Straightforward and easy-to-play Piano reduction.

Opera in three acts-Lotario HWV 26Opera in three actsHandel?s opera Lotario was first heard at the King?s Theater in the Haymarket on 2 December 1729 and had a run of nine performances. Though never revived in the composer?s lifetime Handel reused many of its arias in his later operas sometimes altering the words.The historical background of the plot is the conflict between Otto I (912 973) and Berengar of Ivrea for the Italian crown and Otto?s marriage to the Italian queen Adelaide in 951. In the course of composition the name of the hero (?Ottone? in Salvi?s libretto) was altered to ?Lotario? since Handel had already written an opera entitled Ottone on thelife of Otto II (955 983) in 1722.The vocal score contains the version composed for the performances of December 1729 and January 1730. It is based on the Urtext of the Halle Handel Edition.- Urtext of the Halle Handel Edition.- Full score (BA4074) & vocal score (BA4074-90) available for sale.- Performance material (BA4074-72) available for hire

Basso - Bass - A cura di - Edited by Ilaria Narici-A selection of 38 arias for voice and piano with plot synopses and translations in Italian and English.

Georg Frideric Händel?s Serse (Xerxes) has everything one would expect from a Baroque opera - many intertwining love stories affairs intrigues scheming misunderstanding and forgiving allpresented in the great master?s magnificent music.The opera is set in Persia in 480 BC and is very loosely based upon Xerxes I of Persia though there is little in either the Baroque libretto or music that is relevant tothat setting the main focus is on the characters (Serse Arsamene Amastre Romilda Atalanta Ariodate and Elviro some of which are based on real historical persons) and their plotting. The English version forthe opera in three acts was made for the English National Opera?s production first performed in 1985 on the 300th anniversary of Händel?s birth.In this edition of the Vocal score with the original Italian and thelater English lyrics accompaniment is provided by the instruments indicated in the orchestration (2 Recorders (or Flutes) 2 Oboes 2 Horns in F Trumpet in D Strings and Continuo [Harpsichord Cello Double Bass Bassoon]) butcan also be played by the Piano. Serse?s part originally sung by a castrato can be performed by a Soprano or a Countertenor.

O come let us sing HWV 253 Chandos Anthem No.8Handel’s three anthems (My song shall be alway HWV 252 O come let us sing HWV 253 O praise the Lord HWV 254) were composed in 1717 and 1718 for Cannons a country estate near to London. They take their nickname the “Chandos Anthems” from the owner of the estate the First Duke of Chandos.The three pieces are noteworthy for their festive character and their varied orchestral accompaniment. Handel borrows older material from his Italian period and his earlier works for the Chapel Royal in London – a standard procedure for this composer who reusedparticularly successful pieces as starting points for his later works. The scoring for solo voices chorus oboe strings and continuo was tailored to the musical resources of the small country estate. Two additional recorders are needed for “O come let us sing unto the Lord”.The anthems present the Urtext from the “Halle Handel Edition” and include uncomplicated and easy-to-play Piano reductions. In addition to the original English words the full scores and vocal scores also include a singing translation in German.- Full score & parts (BA4293) and vocal score (BA4293-90) available for sale