Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- George Frideric Handel
Alessandro (1726)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Peter Jones
Programme Note
Handel wrote Alessandro in 1726, and it was produced in May of that year. It was the first of his operas for the Royal Academy of Music to feature the two leading sopranos of the day, Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni. In later revivals, Handel rewrote the opera extensively, omitting characters and shortening recitatives in particular. This edition seeks to recreate a version of the opera corresponding largely to the original performances. Its main sources are the score published by Friedrich Chrysander in 1877 and Handel’s autograph in the British Library. It contains a number of passages of music, dynamic and tempo directions omitted by Chrysander. Handel began writing the part of Leonato for alto, but later changed it for tenor. He noted a tenor version of the recitative Oh, smisurato ardire on empty staves in the autograph: this appears in this edition. However, he did not rewrite the Coro No. 15 to accommodate the change in voice. In this edition, Leonato doubles Tassile (instead of Cleone as in Handel’s score) since the tessitura is lower. Handel deleted the substantial sinfonia written to introduce Act II, Scene VI and incorporated it in Scipione, composed as a stopgap because of Faustina’s late arrival in London. This sinfonia appears in the appendix. Also in the appendix are alternative and additional arias written by Handel for the opera.
The score uses modern clef conventions for the voices. It also uses modern Italian spelling.
SYNOPSIS
Alessandro (Alexander the Great), amid his conquest of Asia, besieges the Indian city of Oxidraca. When it falls and he fends off an army mutiny with little bloodshed, the success seems to blind him into believing himself godlike. He must also choose between two princesses for their hand in marriage: the Scythian Lisaura and the captive Persian Roxana. Believing him dead, Roxana is overheard by Alexander grieving for him, which convinces him of her love. He marries her and offers an overjoyed Lisaura to the Indian king and ally, Tassile, who had helped Alessandro quell the mutiny. Alessandro shows mercy to his vanquished enemies, his forgiveness and generosity praised by all.
The score uses modern clef conventions for the voices. It also uses modern Italian spelling.
SYNOPSIS
Alessandro (Alexander the Great), amid his conquest of Asia, besieges the Indian city of Oxidraca. When it falls and he fends off an army mutiny with little bloodshed, the success seems to blind him into believing himself godlike. He must also choose between two princesses for their hand in marriage: the Scythian Lisaura and the captive Persian Roxana. Believing him dead, Roxana is overheard by Alexander grieving for him, which convinces him of her love. He marries her and offers an overjoyed Lisaura to the Indian king and ally, Tassile, who had helped Alessandro quell the mutiny. Alessandro shows mercy to his vanquished enemies, his forgiveness and generosity praised by all.