1979–1983; v.2 (1986), covering 1984–1985; v.3 (1989), covering 1986–
1987; v.4 (1991), covering 1988–1990; v.5 (1993), covering 1991–1992; v.6
(1996), covering 1993–1995. Not much about operas has been published in
this journal. One useful study is Bernd Edelmann, “Die zweite Fassung von
Händels Oper Radamisto,” 3 (1969): 99–123.Biographies
- Dean, Winton. The New Grove Handel. New York: Norton, 1983. 185p.
ISBN 0-393-30086-2. ML410 .H13 D24.
Reprint of the authoritative article in NG,with reliable worklist by Anthony
Hicks. - Deutsch, Otto Erich. Handel: A Documentary Biography. New York: Norton,
- xiv, 942p. Reprint, New York: Da Capo, 1974. ML410 .H13 D47.
“All known and many hitherto unknown or overlooked documents” form the
basis for this landmark work. Materials are reproduced in chronological
order. Newspaper comments and notices are included. Partly annotated bibli-
ography of about 1,500 entries; name, topic, and place index.
See also next entry.
958.Dokumente zu Leben und Schaffen. Händel-Handbuch(#941), v.4.
A revision of Deutsch (#957), presenting all known documents with concise
commentaries in German. Much of the original was removed in the revision,
however. The work received a harsh review by J. Merrill Knapp in Göttinger
Händel Beiträge3 (1989): 296–311.- Lang, Paul Henry. George Frideric Handel. New York: Norton, 1966. xviii,
731p. ML410 .H13 L26.
A semipopular study, written by a perceptive musicologist, sparsely footnoted
and without bibliography. Lang shows special interest in cultural settings; his
chapter on baroque opera is interesting from this viewpoint. Partly expansive
index of names, titles, and topics. - Burrows, Donald. Handel. New York: Oxford U.P., 1994. xii, 491p. ISBN 0-
02-870327-8. ML410 .H13 B94.
The new standard biography, presenting life and works interleaved. Handel’s
phases are taken as units: Germany, Italy, England. Program notes on the
operas. Useful appendix material includes a calendar, worklist, and personalia.
Footnotes, bibliography of some 200 entries, partly expansive index. - Hogwood, Christopher. Handel. London: Thames & Hudson, 1984. 312p.
No ISBN. ML410 .H13 H66.
A lively, well-documented life and works, superbly illustrated. Good treatment
of the operas (p.49–139), focusing on genesis and reception. Insightful com-
ments throughout from this distinguished Handel interpreter. Chronology,
bibliography of about 200 items, index.
188 Opera