Esther (oratorio)
Encyclopedia
Esther is an oratorio
by George Frideric Handel
and is generally acknowledged to be the first English oratorio. Handel set a libretto by John Arbuthnot
and Alexander Pope
after the Old Testament drama
by Jean Racine
. It is a short (1 hr. 40 min.) work compared to Handel's later oratorios. The work was originally composed in about 1718, but was heavily revised into a full oratorio in 1732.
(HWV 50a), composed early in Handel's English career, and before the body of his success as an opera composer. It was first composed and performed, probably, at Cannons
, where the Duke of Chandos
employed Handel in 1718 as resident composer writing for his patron's singers and small orchestra. Little is known about this first version of Esther. It had a few other private performances but otherwise remained untouched for more than a decade thereafter.
James Murray recounts as an anecdote of the 1732 premiere performance that the foreign singers garbled the text, one making the line "I come my queen to chaste delights" to be heard as "I comb my queen to chase the lice." according to a contemporary account.
Although this was Handel's first venture into his signature oratorio genre, it already displayed remarkable variety even with relatively small ensemble to create a wide variety of moods from the joyous choruses when the Israelites first learn that Esther
, one of their own, will be made queen by their Persian overlord, King Ahasuerus, to their despondent cries when they are told that his anti-semitic minister, Haman, has ordered the death of all Jews in the kingdom. Then there is the tense appeal by Esther's kinsman Mordecai begging her to risk her life to save him and her people, leading to lyrical arias in which her charms entice the King to a dinner with Haman. Here she reveals that Haman is the source of the order to destroy Mordecai—a man, she reminds her husband, who, though a Jew, uncovered a plot against the king's life. The infatuated and outraged Ahasuerus peremptorily orders the execution of Haman. This is followed by a pathetic appeal of the minister to the queen, which she shrilly denies. The oratorio ends in grand Handelian style with an 11 minute extravaganza in which all the musical forces are rotated in a kaleidoscopic paean of joy that the Lord has slain the enemy of Israel. An interlude in the midst of blaring trumpets and shouting choristers features a bass duet which looks forward to the rebuilding of the temple. This surprise echoes Handel's ability to keep interest alive throughout the oratorio by varying the musical texture and timbre.
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...
and is generally acknowledged to be the first English oratorio. Handel set a libretto by John Arbuthnot
John Arbuthnot
John Arbuthnot, often known simply as Dr. Arbuthnot, , was a physician, satirist and polymath in London...
and Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
after the Old Testament drama
Esther (drama)
Esther is the name of a play in three acts written in 1689 by the French dramatist, Jean Racine. It premiered on January 26, 1689, performed by the pupils of the Maison royale de Saint-Louis, an educational institute for young girls of noble birth...
by Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
. It is a short (1 hr. 40 min.) work compared to Handel's later oratorios. The work was originally composed in about 1718, but was heavily revised into a full oratorio in 1732.
Masque (1718)
Somewhat surprisingly for an oratorio, the work was originally staged or semi-staged. It began as a masqueMasque
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...
(HWV 50a), composed early in Handel's English career, and before the body of his success as an opera composer. It was first composed and performed, probably, at Cannons
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
, where the Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
employed Handel in 1718 as resident composer writing for his patron's singers and small orchestra. Little is known about this first version of Esther. It had a few other private performances but otherwise remained untouched for more than a decade thereafter.
Oratorio (1732)
In 1731, Handel had different needs since public tastes were changing. London's most famous and popular composer of Italian operas was finding the enthusiasm of his audience for the genre to be waning. He returned to Esther, revised it, and presented an expanded oratorio version (HWV 50b) in a public premiere at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket on 2 May 1732. The work was popular and was frequently performed as a staple of Handel's oratorio repertoire throughout the rest of his career.James Murray recounts as an anecdote of the 1732 premiere performance that the foreign singers garbled the text, one making the line "I come my queen to chaste delights" to be heard as "I comb my queen to chase the lice." according to a contemporary account.
Although this was Handel's first venture into his signature oratorio genre, it already displayed remarkable variety even with relatively small ensemble to create a wide variety of moods from the joyous choruses when the Israelites first learn that Esther
Esther
Esther , born Hadassah, is the eponymous heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther.According to the Bible, she was a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus...
, one of their own, will be made queen by their Persian overlord, King Ahasuerus, to their despondent cries when they are told that his anti-semitic minister, Haman, has ordered the death of all Jews in the kingdom. Then there is the tense appeal by Esther's kinsman Mordecai begging her to risk her life to save him and her people, leading to lyrical arias in which her charms entice the King to a dinner with Haman. Here she reveals that Haman is the source of the order to destroy Mordecai—a man, she reminds her husband, who, though a Jew, uncovered a plot against the king's life. The infatuated and outraged Ahasuerus peremptorily orders the execution of Haman. This is followed by a pathetic appeal of the minister to the queen, which she shrilly denies. The oratorio ends in grand Handelian style with an 11 minute extravaganza in which all the musical forces are rotated in a kaleidoscopic paean of joy that the Lord has slain the enemy of Israel. An interlude in the midst of blaring trumpets and shouting choristers features a bass duet which looks forward to the rebuilding of the temple. This surprise echoes Handel's ability to keep interest alive throughout the oratorio by varying the musical texture and timbre.
External links
- Esther libretto hosted by Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. - Information on Esther at gfhandel.org.