Alexander Balus

Alexander Balus (HWV 65) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. The work has three acts and was written in English. The period of the story is from 150 B.C to 145 B.C. The libretto is by Thomas Morell after the biblical book of 1 Maccabees. Fourth in a series of English military oratorios, following Joshua and the success of Judas Maccabaeus, celebrating the victories of the Royal family over the Jacobite uprisings, Alexander Balus was composed in the summer of 1747 and premiered on 23 March 1748 with Caterina Galli singing the title role, Thomas Lowe as Jonathan, and Thomas Reinhold as Ptolemee. In 1754 Handel made a revision to his work and changed the leading role, Alexander, a soprano instead of an alto.

Dramatis personae

[1]

Plot

Alexander claimed the throne of Syria by killing Demetrius the king. Alexander then befriends the Jews and their leader Jonathan Maccabaeus. The king of Egypt, Ptolemee, congratulates Alexander and celebrates his successes by awarding him his daughter, Cleopatra. The two fall in love.

Alexander and Cleopatra are married. Alexander is led to believe by a messenger that Jonathan plans to betray him after winning his friendship. It is then revealed that Ptolemee only arranged Alexander and Cleopatra's marriage to take Alexander's land and power. He plans to move his troops into Syria under the cover of nightfall to kidnap and kill the young leader.

Cleopatra is kidnapped by Ptolemee’s ruffians and he intends force her to marry to another man. During Cleopatra's captivity, Ptolemee tries to break her allegiance to Alexander, but is unsuccessful. Alexander rushes off to war, while Jonathan stays behind, fearing the worst and doubting the power of Alexander's Syrian gods. Jonathan's intuition is confirmed when a messenger delivers the news that although they won three battles, Alexander and Ptolemy have been killed. Cleopatra commends herself to the goddess, Isis, and retires to ‘some peaceful shore’. Jonathan reflects on the tragedy, believing that if everyone would have acknowledged the true God, none of this would have happen.

[2]

Music

Act 1

Orchestra

Chorus of Asiates-

Alexander- Recit.*Thus far ye glorious partners of the war

Jonathan-

Cleopatra-

Alexander-

Chorus of Asiates-

Alexander-

Cleopatra-

Aspasia-

Cleopatra-

Ceopatra/Aspasi-

Jonathan-

Alexander-

Jonathan-

Chorus of Israelites-

Act 2

Alexander-

Jonathan-

Alexander-

Sycophant Courtier-

Jonathan-

Chorus-

Cleopatra-

Aspasia-

Ptolomee-

Jonathan-

Jonathan and Chorus-

Alexander-

Cleopatra/Alexander-

Chorus of Asiates-

Act 3

Orchestra

Cleopatra-

Ruffians/Cleopatra/-

Alexander-

Jonathan-

Alexander-

Asparsia-

Jonathan-

Chorus of Issaelites-

Ptolomee-

Cleopatra-

Messenger-

Cleopatra-

Another Messenger-

Cleopatra-

Jonathan-

Jonathan and Chorus-

[3]

Instrumentation

[4]

This Baroque era Oratorio originally featured all Baroque instruments. in its later performances the Continuo has been switch from a harpsichord to a pianoforte. Handel uses some of his ornate composing styles like a trumba call in "And Thus let happy Egypt's king" and strong use of chorus to convey messages and further the plot. Some of the orchestration for each song changes depending on the singer but mostly Continuo is used when performing a recitative. Arias are accompanied by varying instruments in this work. there are two orchestra pieces the Overture and a Sinfonia before Act III.

Performances

Covent Garden 23 March 1748

1754 Revival

[5]

Recordings

References

  1. ↑ http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/albalus.htm
  2. ↑ Dean, Winton. "Chaper 21 Alexander Balus." Handel's Dramatic Oratorios and Masques. London: Oxford UP, 1959. 482-97. Print.
  3. ↑ http://imslp.org/wiki/Alexander_Balus,_HWV_65_(Handel,_George_Frideric)
  4. ↑ http://imslp.org/wiki/Alexander_Balus,_HWV_65_(Handel,_George_Frideric)
  5. ↑ Dean, Winton. "Chaper 21 Alexander Balus." Handel's Dramatic Oratorios and Masques. London: Oxford UP, 1959. 482-97. Print.
  6. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Handel-Alexander-Daniels-McFadden-Consort/dp/B000003015/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1448389849&sr=1-1&keywords=alexander+balus
  7. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Handel-Alexander-Balus-English-Oratorio/dp/B000003W3M/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1448389849&sr=1-2&keywords=alexander+balus
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-7XJGBZu0Y
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLVDphwBjYchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLVDphwBjYc

External links

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