Pittsburgh Opera Think German-English Baroque composer Meet the Composer G. F. Handel: Education thanks our by Jill Leahy by Jill Leahy of early opera, oratorio, and orchestral works George Frideric Handel (February 23, generous supporters: The Baroque period of music started around 1600 and ended around 1750. 1685 – April 14, 1759) was born in American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. During this period, Shakespeare created his great tragedies ( Hamlet , King Halle, Germany in the same year Bayer USA Foundation Lear , Othello , and Macbeth), the first real orchestras came into being as Johann Sebastian Bach and The Frick Fund of the Buhl (including recorders, lutes, and harpsichord), and, with the Church’s loss of Domenico Scarlatti. Though Handel Foundation political control in Europe, new styles of music like the concerto, sonata, and and Bach were born in towns only The Jack Buncher Foundation opera flourished. Jacopo Peri composed the first opera, Daphne, in 1598; in about 50 miles apart, they never Dominion Foundation 1607, Monteverdi composed L’Orfeo, the earliest surviving opera that is still Portrait of G. F. Handel by met. Handel’s father, a barber- Balthasar Denner (c. 1726 –1728) Eat ‘n Park Hospitality Group, Inc. regularly performed. surgeon, wanted his son to become ESB Bank a lawyer, but the young Handel loved music. His father First Commonwealth Handel, who composed forbade him to touch any musical instruments, but stories Financial Corporation over 40 operas, was a persist that his mother smuggled a clavichord into the attic, larger-than-life character The Grable Foundation where George would practice when his father was away. (literally—he was very The Hearst Foundation After his father died, Handel’s propensity for music drove Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. rotund), and his music him to find ways to pursue his musical studies and career. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield was Opera Vancouver at Tim Matheson by Photo Production loved, especially by In 1702 he left Halle for Hamburg, where he played violin The Huntington National Bank London audiences. and harpsichord for the only opera company in Germany Intermediate Unit #1, Pennsylvania When, toward the end of that existed outside the royal courts. Department of Education his career, musical Levin Furniture tastes moved away from One writer describes Handel as “a bruiser whose robust Martha Mack Lewis Foundation Rodelinda the strict musical personality and generous physique were as renowned as People’s Natural Gas limitations of Italian his music. His delight in intrigue and gossip was matched Reed Smith LLP opera, he stopped only by his insatiable appetite for food and liquor.” To prove Music by George Frideric Handel The Techs - MetalTech composing operas and this point, there are accounts of a strange incident in 1704 Libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym Triangle Tech Group turned instead to in which Handel fought a duel with a fellow composer United States Steel Corporation creating oratorios: large named Johann Mattheson, during which Mattheson almost musical compositions for More than 25 Handel operas premiered at the King’s killed Handel with his sword—saved only when he hit a orchestra, choir, and Theatre between 1711 and 1739. The name of the theatre button on Handel’s chest rather than the chest itself. In 1710, changes with the gender of the monarch. The theatre first soloists, generally with became the King's Theatre in 1714 on the accession of Handel accepted the position of Kapellmeister to George, I should be sorry if I only no costumes or props Elector of Hanover, who was soon to be King George I of George I, was destroyed by fire in 1790, then rebuilt and entertained them. I wish and with the texts most renamed Her Majesty's Theatre in 1837. From 1901 to Great Britain. In 1712, Handel settled in England, where he often dealing with 1952, the theatre was known as His Majesty's Theatre; it began a time of incredible artistic output that included some to make them better. sacred subjects. became Her Majesty's on the accession of Elizabeth II. Since 1986, The Phantom of the Opera has been playing at of his greatest works, including Water Music and Messiah . Oratorios by Handel George Frideric Handel Her Majesty’s Theatre, which has a capacity of 1,216 seats. include Messiah and Handel’s life was not without tragedy. He had a stroke in Watercolor by William Capon (1757–1827) 1737 (at age 52) that caused temporary paralysis in his right Judas Maccabaeus. http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/uk/uk_london_kings_haymarket.htm arm, was involved in a coach crash in 1750, and had The first performance of Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi was at the King's cataracts and eventually went blind after a botched eye For more information on Theatre, London, on February 13, 1725. It is an opera seria in three acts and operation in 1751 (at age 66). He continued to compose Pittsburgh Opera's education one of the few operas with a tenor in the villain’s role. Historically, Handel despite his blindness, and died in London at the age of 74. programs, please contact: wrote for specific singers, and in the original performances, the part for Since he never married, his estate was passed on to his Bertarido was written for an alto castrato named Senesino (Francesco niece Johanna Floerken. His request to be buried in Marilyn Michalka Egan, Ph.D. Bernardi), who created over 15 leading roles for Handel. It was not until the Director of Education Westminster Abbey was honored, and it was reported that late 19 th century that the Roman Catholic Church officially condemned the his funeral was attended by more than 3,000 mourners. [email protected] 412-281-0912 ext 242 procedure of castration of young boys ( castrati ) to preserve their high voices. Even the great Ludwig van Beethoven praised Handel: Pittsburgh Opera While Handel’s orchestral works, such as Water Music and Music for the • Go to him to learn how to achieve great effects, 2425 Liberty Avenue Royal Fireworks , have remained popular, his operas fell out of favor for more by such simple means. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Study Guide to the Opera than 200 years. The Metropolitan Opera first presented Rodelinda in 2004, • I would bare my head and kneel at his grave. www.pittsburghopera.org and again in 2011, with Renée Fleming singing the title role. Rodelinda Synopsis continued Meet the Librettist Rodelinda Synopsis Characters by Jill Leahy Location and timeframe: Milan and the surrounding gambit works—Grimoaldo backs down ( Spietati, io vi giurai ). But, countryside, early 18 th century. of the Opera he is very taken with Rodelinda’s courage and constancy and feels that he might actually come to love her, though he cannot forget Prologue: Bertarido, King of Lombardy and Milan, has been Rodelinda his feelings for Eduige. Garibaldo and Unulfo are left alone to attacked and deposed by Grimoaldo, an ally of his estranged brother. [roh-deh-LEEN-dah] soprano debate Grimoaldo’s options. Garibaldo believes power should be Bertarido vanishes, leaving Rodelinda and her son Flavio in the Queen of the Lombards seized and ensured at any cost. Unulfo, musing alone, decides to power of the victorious Grimoaldo. As a reward for defeating Bertarido, Grimoaldo was promised the hand of Bertarido’s sister, take Rodelinda to Bertarido and finds a breath of hope ( Tirannia Eduige, giving him a legitimate claim to the throne at Milan. Eduige Bertarido gli diede il regno ). Walking near the stables, Eduige happens and Grimoaldo fell in love, but she would not marry him while [bair-tah-REE-doh] mezzo-soprano upon and recognizes Bertarido. She is overjoyed to find him alive. mourning two brothers—one dead, one presumed so. From abroad, Rodelinda’s husband, the King of Lombardy She assuages his fears about Rodelinda’s constancy, and they Bertarido sent word of his own death, intending to return to Milan in move away deep in conversation as Unulfo brings Rodelinda to the disguise to rescue his wife and son, and to escape to an anonymous Grimoaldo life far from the vagaries of politics and the burden of government. [gree-moh-AHL-doh] tenor stables. Unulfo goes off to look for Bertarido, who soon returns with The news of his death has devastated both Rodelinda and Eduige. Duke of Benevento, a usurper Eduige to be reunited at last with his wife. Grimoaldo, intent on gaining the throne, weighs his options, Intermission counseled by two advisers—Garibaldo, his closest aide, and Unulfo, Eduige a member of Bertarido’s cabinet, who maintains intimate ties with the When Bertarido and Rodelinda are discovered by Grimoaldo, he [ed-WEE-jeh] mezzo-soprano royal family and is the only person who knows that Bertarido still lives. orders Bertarido taken into custody and, enraged, bids them take Nicola Francesco Haym was Sister of Bertarido, betrothed to Grimoaldo their final farewells. Bertarido will soon die ( Io t’abbraccio ). G born in Rome on July 6, 1678 and worked as a librettist, Unulfo Act III Dungeon in the palace Eduige sends a servant to the ACT I A palace in Milan Rodelinda and her son are [oo-NOOL-foh] countertenor composer, theater manager, being held in a sparsely furnished room in the palace in dungeon with a concealed weapon that is to be given to Bertarido and coin collector. He is most A nobleman, loyal friend to Bertarido (Un zeffiro spirò che serenò quest’alma ). She and Unulfo plan Milan ( Ho perduto il caro sposo ). Grimoaldo enters with remembered for the libretti he for Bertarido’s escape: Unulfo, who has access to the prison, will Eduige and his advisers and announces his wish to marry Garibaldo wrote for Handel—Giulio lead Bertarido through a hidden tunnel from the cell to the palace Rodelinda, thereby gaining the throne.