Deborah (Handel)
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| Oratorios by George Frideric Handel |
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Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (1707) |
Deborah (HWV 51) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It was one of Handel's very early oratorios and was based on a libretto by Samuel Humphreys. It received its premiere performance at the King's Theatre in London on 21 February 1733.
The story of the oratorio takes place in a single day and is based on the Biblical stories found in 4 and 5 Judges. The Israelites have been subjugated for 20 years by the Canaanites, when the prophetess Deborah foretells the death of the Canaanite commander Sisera at the hands of a woman. The Israeli commander Barak leads them into battle against the Canaanites and they come out victorious because Jael, wife of a friend of Sisera, assassinated him during the battle. Celebration ensues.
[edit] Dramatis personae
- Deborah (soprano)
- Barak (alto)
- Abinoam (bass)
- Sisera (alto)
- Jael (soprano)
- An Israelite Woman (soprano)
- Chief Priest of Israelites (bass)
- Chief Priest of Baal (bass)
- Herald (tenor)
- Chorus of the Priests and Israelites
- Chorus of the Priests of Baal
[edit] E-book
Score of Deborah (ed. Friedrich Chrysander, Leipzig 1869)
[edit] External links
- Full-text of Humphreys' libretto hosted at Stanford University.
- Program Notes by Boston Cecilia.
