SKU: BA.BA04077
ISBN 9790006550067. 33 x 26 cm inches. Preface: McLauchlan, Fiona. Nicola Francesco Haym.
Handel completed his opera “Ottone†in August 1722, but the first performance did not take place until January 1723 in the Haymarket Theatre, London; the composer had waited so long for the famous soprano Francesca Cuzzoni who he had in mind for the role of Teofane. “Ottone†was an immediate success from the beginning, not only for its top-class cast but also because of its formal and musical structure. It received numerous revivals until 1733. Stylistically, “Ottone†follows in the Neapolitan opera tradition with emotionally charged arias as the principal vehicles of expression, whilst the plot is carried forward in the secco recitatives. The dramatic action is interpreted and intensified through the choice of arias and keys. The vocal score is based on volume II/12 of the “Halle Handel Edition†(BA 4077), which contains the complete critical musical text of the opera for the first time.
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What can I expect from a Barenreiter Urtext edition?
MUSICOLOGICALLY SOUND - A reliable musical text based on all available sources - A description of the sources - Information on the genesis and history of the work - Valuable notes on performance practice - Includes an introduction with critical commentary explaining source discrepancies and editorial decisions ... AND PRACTICAL - Page-turns, fold-out pages, and cues where you need them - A well-presented layout and a user-friendly format - Excellent print quality - Superior paper and binding
SKU: BA.BA08701
ISBN 9790006530458. 33.2 x 26.5 cm inches. Text: Thomas Sauvage.
Inspired by models from the Commedia dell’Arte, the plot is set in Seville and presents the old “Greybeard†Don Belflor (a retired bullfighter and womanizer), his young wife Coraline and her lover Tracolin. In a highly contemporary way, this leads to a three-way relationship of which everyone approves. The ‘accord parfait’ is a perfect triad consisting of exactly three notes. It is noticeable that the libretti of the Second Republic were no longer subject to censor. Two arias were planned for each role. As a flautist, Tracolin also knows how to evoke famous melodies from the French opera repertoire in his advances. The centrepieces are the two trios. One of these, the variation number “Ah! vous dirai-je, mamanâ€, is the jewel of the opera: here, vocal virtuosity and the comedy of the situation are combined with brilliant ease.
SKU: BA.BA10720-01
ISBN 9790006550302. 33 x 26.5 cm inches. Text Language: Italian. Preface: Hans Dieter Clausen. Text: Haym, Nicola Francesco (nach Giacomo Francesco Bussani).
Giulio Cesare in Egittois by far Handel's most frequently performed opera owing its success not least to its subject matter, one of the best known love stories in world history. Already during Handel's lifetime the popular work was often staged and therefore adapted by Handel for each of the performance conditions. The editor Hans Dieter Clausen has succeeded in editorially defining and practically presenting these adaptations - essentially four versions - on the basis of a meticulous study of the sources within the framework of theHalle Handel Edition. The new edition allows for a performance of each of the four versions. The version of 1725 is particularly noteworthy because Handel newly devised the role of Sesto for the famous tenor Francesco Borosini.The libretto shows the Roman dictator Cesar in a friendly light. He instructs his enemy, the Egyptian tyrant Tolomeo, how to treat adversaries; he reconciles the widow and son of his enemy Pompeo who was murdered by Tolomeo; he is generous and just, hands on, but also diplomatic, thoughtful, aware of the limits of his power, and susceptible for art and nature. However, the actual protagonist of the opera is Cleopatra. In a masterly way Handel develops her character musically.In his extensive Foreword Hans Dieter Clausen not only decribes the genesis, historical background, reception and the edition of the opera, he also examines the musical and dramaturgical reworking of individual numbers inGiulio Cesare. Handel was such an expert in adapting arias for new purposes and other characters that he did not only meet the needs at hand but often the new version surpassed the original. In this way, the reader gains, in passing, a well-founded insight into Handel's work methods when designing and redevising his characters. The detailed Critical Commentary includes information on the comprehensive and highly complex source situation as well as on individual editorial decisions.
