Act 2 delves deeper into Saul’s jealousy and the growing tension between him and David. Jonathan warns David of Saul’s murderous intentions, and the two reaffirm their friendship, with Jonathan vowing to protect David. Saul, consumed by envy, accuses Jonathan of disloyalty for siding with David and even threatens his own son. Despite Saul’s earlier promise to spare David, he …
Handel’s Samson (1743) marks his break from Italian opera and his embrace of English oratorio, inspired by Milton’s Samson Agonistes and shaped by librettist Newburgh Hamilton into a powerful “opera of the mind”. Fusing Milton’s sublime poetry, vivid contrasts of light and darkness, and sharply characterised choruses of Israelites and Philistines, Handel created one of his most emotionally compelling and politically resonant works, a patriotic masterpiece that became his most frequently performed dramatic oratorio in the eighteenth century.
An early work of Handel, this secular cantata was composed in 1707, and premiered that same year at the Palazzo Bonelli, in Rome. Wanting to write opera after his early success in Hamburg, Handel traveled to Italy; however upon arrival in Rome, Handel discovered that opera had been banned by Papal edict. In lieu of opera, Roman aristocracy hosted performances of secular cantatas, which were, for all intents and purposes, short operas without staging. Handel delved into this form, writing over 100 of these chamber cantatas for various patrons.
This month’s pick has been selected by TEC cellist, Jonny Byers.
This month’s pick has been selected by TEC CEO and viola player, Alfonso Leal del Ojo
Time stopped with the upper voice trio, ‘Suscepit Israel’
The strength-in-depth of this full-blooded Magnificat may have served as the evening’s meaty centrepiece. Still, those early courses delivered far more than pretty trimmings.
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