HANDEL, George Friedrich (1685-1759)
The Italian oratorio "La Resurrezione" (The Resurrection) was written during Handels time in Rome. It was performed on Easter Sunday 1708 with great splendour and extravagance by a large orchestra conducted by Arcangelo Corelli in the Palazzo Bonelli, the Roman palazzo of Handels patron the Marchese Francesco Maria Ruspoli.
In its dramatic structure and characterisation of the protagonists, the work displays a striking affinity with Italian opera. Lucifers raging sixty fourth notes call to mind the demon characters in Venetian opera and Maddalenas arias are so full of expressive power and virtuosity that Handel later incorporated one of them into his opera "Agrippina". The unusual musical richness of this work and the virtuosic and masterly shaping of the arias make it a welcome addition to any concert programme.
Editor: Terence Best.
Encuadernado en tela.
