Alceste (Handel)
Encyclopedia
Alceste is a masque
or semi-opera
by George Frideric Handel
.
It was written as incidental music to a lost play
by Tobias Smollett
, which was rehearsed at Covent Garden Theatre but never performed. There was an overture
and song
s for Acts 1 and 4, 19 movements in total. It was composed from 27 December 1749 to 8 January 1750. Handel later used the music in The Choice of Hercules
, HWV 69, and revivals of Alexander Balus
, HWV 65, and Hercules, HWV 60.
Handel: Alceste - Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
or semi-opera
Semi-opera
The terms Semi-opera, dramatic[k] opera and English opera were all applied to Restoration entertainments that combined spoken plays with masque-like episodes employing singing and dancing characters. They usually included machines in the manner of the restoration spectacular...
by George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
.
It was written as incidental music to a lost play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Tobias Smollett
Tobias Smollett
Tobias George Smollett was a Scottish poet and author. He was best known for his picaresque novels, such as The Adventures of Roderick Random and The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle , which influenced later novelists such as Charles Dickens.-Life:Smollett was born at Dalquhurn, now part of Renton,...
, which was rehearsed at Covent Garden Theatre but never performed. There was an overture
Overture
Overture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
and song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s for Acts 1 and 4, 19 movements in total. It was composed from 27 December 1749 to 8 January 1750. Handel later used the music in The Choice of Hercules
The Choice of Hercules (Handel)
The Choice of Hercules is an oratorio in one act by George Frideric Handel. Handel produced the score between 28 June and 5 July 1750. The first performance was given on 1 March 1751 at the Covent Garden Theatre, London...
, HWV 69, and revivals of Alexander Balus
Alexander Balus
Alexander Balus is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. The libretto is by Thomas Morell after the biblical book of 1 Maccabees...
, HWV 65, and Hercules, HWV 60.
Recordings
Handel: Alceste - Academy of Ancient Music- Conductor: Christopher HogwoodChristopher HogwoodChristopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood CBE, MA , HonMusD , born 10 September 1941, Nottingham, is an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer and musicologist, well known as the founder of the Academy of Ancient Music.-Biography:...
- Principal singers: Emma KirkbyEmma KirkbyDame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
, Patrizia Kwella, Judith Nelson, Paul Elliott, David Thomas, Margaret Cable - Recording date:
- Label: L'oiseau-lyre London/Decca - 421479 (CD)
Handel: Alceste - Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu
- Conductor: Franck-Emmanuel Comte
- Principal singers: Stéphanie Révidat, Roxanne Comiotto, Jean Delescluse, François Bazola
- Recording date: August 1997
- Label: Absalon (Musicsoft/Media 7)/LCHD897 (CD)