The two works, which were among the first five London operas, were “com-
parative failures.” Only a few of the arias were published, thus manuscript
copies are important—and they are numerous. Sources are collated here and
displayed in tables.Amadis
See: Kimbell (#753).
Ezio
- Strohm, Reinhard. “Handel’s Ezio.” In Essays on Handel (#953), 225–231.
The unknown text-writer who adapted Metastasio’s libretto (first performed
to music by Pietro Auletta in Rome, 1729) for Handel greatly reduced the dia-
logue to accommodate the preference of London audiences for arias. With the
story line thus dismembered, it was left to the music to express “more than
what happens on the stage or stands in the text.” Handel’s way of doing so is
analyzed by Strohm, and although the effects were technically praiseworthy,
the “complexity and density of expression” may have been too much for the
audiences. Eziohad only five performances.
Giulio Cesare
ASO97 (1987).
- Knapp, J. Merrill. “Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto.” In Studies in Music His-
tory: Essays for Oliver Strunk,ed. Harold S. Powers, 389–403 (Princeton,
N.J.: Princeton U.P., 1968; ML3797.1 .P69 S9).
Examines the four versions of the opera as performed in London between
1724 and 1732. Libretti and scores are compared through tabular presenta-
tion and placed in context of the characteristics of the work. - Monson, Craig. “Giulio Cesare in Egitto: From Sartorio (1677) to Handel
(1724).” M&L66 (1985): 313–343.
A considerable influence on Handel may have been exerted by the earlier
work: the libretto, by Nicola Haym, seems to have been based on that of
Francesco Bussani, and there are indications that Handel had Sartorio’s music
in mind.
Giustino
- Strohm, Reinhard. “Vivaldi’s and Handel’s Settings of Giustino.” In Music
and Theatre(#68), 131–158.
Compares Vivaldi’s Giustino(1724) to Handel’s 1737 setting. Strohm says
Handel knew the Vivaldi score. A number-by-number comparison shows close
parallels in the texts. Musical relationships—more subtle—also suggest the
influence of the earlier work.
Joseph
See #950.
George Frideric Handel 193