The Triumph of Time and Truth
Encyclopedia
The Triumph of Time and Truth is an oratorio
by George Frideric Handel
which saw three iterations across 50 years of Handel's career.
HWV 46a is an Italian oratorio from 1707. In 1737 Handel revised and expanded the oratorio to create HWV 46b. Finally, HWV 71 is the work expanded and revised again, possibly without much involvement at all by Handel, into an English-language oratorio from 1757.
. The work, which consisted of two sections, was composed in the Spring of 1707 and premiered that summer in Rome. The oratorio's most famous aria is "Lascia la spina"—music Handel later re-used as "Lascia ch'io pianga
" in his 1711 opera Rinaldo
.
singing the role of Counsel (Truth). The libretto has been reworked into English (probably by Thomas Morell
) and the oratorio again expanded. Handel's health at this time was very poor, and his contribution (if any) to this "new" work is uncertain. John Christopher Smith Jr.
probably assembled the score.
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
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...
which saw three iterations across 50 years of Handel's career.
HWV 46a is an Italian oratorio from 1707. In 1737 Handel revised and expanded the oratorio to create HWV 46b. Finally, HWV 71 is the work expanded and revised again, possibly without much involvement at all by Handel, into an English-language oratorio from 1757.
Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno (HWV 46a)
Under the title which translates "The Triumph of Time and Dis-illusion" (HWV 46a), Handel composed his very first oratorio to a libretto by Cardinal Benedetto PamphiliBenedetto Pamphili
Benedetto Pamphili was an Italian cardinal, patron of the arts, composer and librettist.-Life:...
. The work, which consisted of two sections, was composed in the Spring of 1707 and premiered that summer in Rome. The oratorio's most famous aria is "Lascia la spina"—music Handel later re-used as "Lascia ch'io pianga
Lascia ch'io pianga
Lascia ch'io pianga is a soprano aria by composer George Frideric Handel which has become a popular concert piece. The melody for the song began its life as an Asian dance in his 1705 opera Almira. As an aria the piece was first used in Handel's 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno;...
" in his 1711 opera Rinaldo
Rinaldo (opera)
Rinaldo is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1711. It is the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage. The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill. The work was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London's...
.
Il trionfo del tempo e della verità (HWV 46b)
Thirty years later, living in England and producing seasons of both English-language oratorio and Italian opera, Handel revised and expanded "Il trionfo" to a three-section work under the new title which translates as "The Triumph of Time and Truth" (HWV 46b) in March of 1737 for a premiere on 23 March 1737. Three more performances followed within the month and one more in a revival for the 1739 season.The Triumph of Time and Truth (HWV 71)
While Jephtha is considered Handel's final oratorio, this again-revised version of "Il trionfo" (HWV 71) dates from March 1757 with Isabella YoungIsabella Young
Isabella Young was an English mezzo-soprano and organist who had a successful career as a concert performer and opera singer during the latter half of the eighteenth century...
singing the role of Counsel (Truth). The libretto has been reworked into English (probably by Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell was a librettist, classical scholar, and printer.Morell is important for having written the longest and most detailed surviving account of collaboration with Handel.-Librettos:...
) and the oratorio again expanded. Handel's health at this time was very poor, and his contribution (if any) to this "new" work is uncertain. John Christopher Smith Jr.
John Christopher Smith
John Christopher Smith [Johann Christoph Schmidt] was an English composer who, following in his father's footsteps, became George Frederic Handel's secretary and amanuensis.-Life:...
probably assembled the score.