Esther, HWV 50b (Handel, George Frideric)

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Performances

Sheet Music

Full Scores

Editor Friedrich Chrysander (1826–1901)
Language English / German
Publisher. Info. Georg Friedrich Händels Werke. Band 41
Leipzig: Deutsche Händelgesellschaft, 1882. Plate H.W. 41.
Copyright
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Vocal Scores

Complete

Arranger Charles Lucas (1808–1869), piano reduction
Publisher. Info. London: Novello, Ewer and Co., n.d. Plate 6872.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
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Selections

Aria: O beauteous Queen (Part II, No.23)
Editor Ebenezer Prout (1835–1909)
Publisher. Info. Songs and Airs by George Frideric Handel, Volume I: For High Voice.
Boston: Oliver Ditson Company, 1905. Plate ML-1082-6.
Copyright
Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
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Aria: Turn not, O Queen, thy face away (Part III, No.31)
Editor Ebenezer Prout (1835–1909)
Publisher. Info. Songs and Airs by George Frideric Handel, Volume II: For Low Voice.
Boston: Oliver Ditson Company, 1905. Plate ML-1119-2.
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Arrangements and Transcriptions

Overture

For Organ (Best)
Arranger William Thomas Best (1826–1897)
Publisher. Info. Arrangements from the Scores of the Great Masters, Vol.3 (pp.741-47)
London: Novello, Ewer & Co., n.d. Plate 2229.
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Aria: Tune your harps (Part I, No.7)

For Violin, Piano or Harp and Harmonium (Hellmesberger Jr.)
Arranger Joseph Hellmesberger Jr. (1855–1907)
Publisher. Info. Unidentified Publisher, n.d. Plate C. 46624.
Copyright
Misc. Notes From the International Harp Archives at Brigham Young University
(as digitally mirrored at archive.org).
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Libretti

Publisher. Info. London: J. Watts, 1751.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Royal College of Music Library, London (GB-Lcm): L4/15
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Publisher. Info. London: J. Watts, 1757.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Royal College of Music Library, London (GB-Lcm): L4/16
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General Information

Work Title Esther
Alternative. Title
Name Translations S Oratorium Esther vom Georg Friedrich Händel; Эстер; エステル オラトリオ; Esther (Händel); Εσθήρ
Name Aliases HWV 50; Haman and Mordecai
Authorities WorldCat; Wikipedia; VIAF: 7880149844973002960007; GND: 300064500
Composer Handel, George Frideric
Opus/Catalogue NumberOp./Cat. No. HWV 50b
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IGH 170
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 3 parts (acts):
  • Part I
1. Overture
2. Recitative: 'Tis nobler far (tenor, bass)
3. Aria: Pluck root and branch (bass)
4. Recitative: Our souls with ardour glow (tenor)
5. Chorus: Shall we the God of Israel fear? (Persians)
6. Recitative: Now persecution (tenor)
7. Aria: Tune your harps (tenor)
8. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain
9. Aria: Praise the Lord (soprano)
10. Recitative: O God, who from the suckling's mouth (tenor)
11. Aria: Sing sons of praise (tenor)
12. Recitative: How have our sins (alto)
13. Recitative: Methings I hear (alto)
14. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel, mourn
15. Aria: O Jordan, sacred tide (alto)
  • Part II
16. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow? (soprano, tenor)
17. Aria: Dread not, righteous Queen (tenor)
18. Recitative: I go before the King (soprano)
19. Aria: Tears, assist me (soprano)
20. Chorus: Save us, O Lord
21. Recitative: Who dares intrude (tenor, soprano)
22. Duet: Who calls my parting soul (soprano, tenor)
23. Aria: O beauteous Queen (tenor)
24. Recitative: If I find favor (soprano)
25. Aria: How can I stay (tenor)
26. Recitative: With inward joy (2 tenors)
27. Chorus: Virtue, truth, and innocence
  • Part III
28. Invocation: Jehovah crowned (alto)
29. Chorus: He comes to end our woes
30. Recitative: Now, O Queen (soprano, tenor)
31. Recitative: Turn not, O Queen (bass)
32. Aria: Flattering tongue, no more I hear thee
33. Recitative: Guards, seize the traitor (tenor)
34. Aria: How art thou fall'n (bass)
35. Chorus with Soloists: The Lord our enemy has slain
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1732, with revisions in 1733-37, 1740, 1751, 1757
First Performance. 1732-05-02 in London, King's Theatre in the Haymarket [more...]
Esther: Anna Maria Strada del Pò (soprano)
Ahaseurus: Francesco Bernardi, called "Senesino" (alto-castrato)
Harbonah & Mordecai: Francesca Bertolli (contralto)
Haman: Antonio Montagnana (bass)
Israelite Woman: Ann Turner Robinson (soprano)
First Israelite: Mrs. Davis (soprano)
Members of the Chapel Royal (chorus)
Librettist see below
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
John Arbuthnot (1667–1735)
after Jean Racine (1639–1699)
Language English
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Baroque
Piece Style Baroque
Instrumentation soprano, alto, 2 tenors, bass, mixed chorus (SATB), orchestra
External Links Wikipedia article